Mike Nelson, RN

There was an unfortunate situation with a patient who was remaining on life support only until the family could get to the hospital; then they would withdraw support. Mike Nelson took care of this patient and especially their family for multiple shifts in a row until all their family could come and say their goodbyes. I took care of this patient on his last night, and this family expressed incredible gratitude for Mike. He was so loving and caring for each family member he met. They shared that as horrible as this all was, Mike made everything a tiny bit better. He explained everything very simply so everyone understood the process and plan. He spent time listening to stories about this sweet kiddo. He opened his heart to this family in the most respectful way possible and provided a safe person for them to go through this with. He made sure the family had a say in every choice and followed what they wanted to help make sure everyone was okay. The patient's father said, "Mike was only here for 3 days, but it feels like we have known him for a lifetime."

I am so proud of Mike and how he not only handled the care for this patient, including the nursing interventions, assessments, and care, but mostly how he cared for this family. I could tell that their appreciation for him was sincere and deeply felt among all of them. He considered their religious and cultural beliefs, respected their mourning process, and accommodated them with any needs that came up. He spent time getting to know them so he could better treat and care for their child. He helped this family begin to process this great tragedy. He served with love and set an amazing standard for others to follow. I know this family will never forget him and the special impact he had on their lives. I hope Mike truly knows how wonderful he is.