Michaella was one of the nurses for S in the Open Heart Unit. She's caring, compassionate, empathetic, knowledgeable, kind, sweet, and attentive to the patient and family needs/concerns. She was a proactive advocate for S when he was unconscious, heavily sedated, and hooked up to the ventilator, ECMO, Impella device, feeding tube, etc. Even then, she treated and talked to him like he was a person, a fellow human being, not just a body she had to deal with at work. She asked me what kind of music/tv shows he enjoys so she could put them on for him. She explained what she was doing and why to us in the room and to S...even when he was sedated. She stayed with me when doctors were talking with me to help me understand and to learn more herself so she could provide even better care.

S was supposed to have a TEE done on one of Michaella's days off. When she returned the following day, she realized that the TEE hadn't been done. She talked with the doctors about it, and they were going to schedule it for the next day. Michaella had done the research and saw there was a spot open that day, and she worked with the doctors to get the procedure scheduled for later that day! Michaella was off when S had open-heart surgery. She told me that she called in around 7:30 pm to see how he was doing and learned that he wasn't out of the OR yet, so she was worried. She was so happy to see him back in his room when she came in the next day!

Michaella has a great rapport with the various doctors. She asks them great questions and is very solution/patient comfort-focused. She's appreciative of others' (nurses, doctors, etc.) help. No matter who's in the room (doctors, nurses, etc.), I know that Michaella's the smartest person in the room! Each doctor has a piece of knowledge about S. She knows the whole person inside and out. Michaella's the nurse who knows what the patient and the family need before we know what we need! It's not only 'what'; it's 'how' she does her job that is exceptional! Michaella's an angel!