Orthopedic Unit
February 2026
Orthopedic Unit
Medstar Union Memorial Hospital
Baltimore
,
MD
United States
o Jack Fletcher BSN RN
o Edward Epure RN
o Rhonda Thompson RN
o Kassondra Rosenberg BSN RN ONC
o Mary Grace Anora BSN RN
o Barbara Ischiu-Gutierrez BSN RN CMSRN
•
o Brittney Hair, PCT
o Chileta Igwe, PCT
o Dominique Kellum, PCT
o Carisma Evans, PCT
o Catherine Berry, PCT
o Edward Epure RN
o Rhonda Thompson RN
o Kassondra Rosenberg BSN RN ONC
o Mary Grace Anora BSN RN
o Barbara Ischiu-Gutierrez BSN RN CMSRN
•
o Brittney Hair, PCT
o Chileta Igwe, PCT
o Dominique Kellum, PCT
o Carisma Evans, PCT
o Catherine Berry, PCT
They worked tirelessly with devotion and the highest level of skill.
Our phenomenal nurses at Union Memorial were genuinely happy when they helped make us happy. When our 75-year-old mom had to have back surgery, we were anxious. Beyond the intricacies of the surgery itself, we were nervous about what her recovery would look like afterward. Our nurses at Union Memorial provided exceptional treatment and care from the moment Mom was brought into her hospital room — after a successful 6-hour surgery — until the second she was discharged four days later.
Throughout the time that Mom was in recovery at Union, one of her three children was by her side. Often, it was two or three of us. So we had many opportunities to see whether and how her nurses took care of each other when it was time to change shifts. They welcomed PT, OT, Environmental Services, and other colleagues into the room as if they were one of the family. After Mom’s stay, it felt like they were. And, we’re eternally grateful. In sum, our nurses’ nurturing made the hospital stay beyond safe — it was therapeutic.
We felt comfortable bringing Mom home because — together with our doctors, therapists, and support team members — we already knew what successful care and recovery looked like. The highest compliment may be how much the nurses complimented their colleagues when they weren’t there. Just a few examples of their above-and-beyond efforts:
If Mom pushed the call button from her bed, they’d immediately respond with a warm, non-agitated urgency. Plus, they’d anticipate needs before we made them, such as warm prune juice or just-frozen ice packs. They even learned her preference for staying hydrated: diet ginger ale, heavy on the ice. Their consummate attention extended to Mom’s family, too. At one point, after waking up at 3:30 am, one of us was tired and falling asleep in an upright four-legged chair. They thoughtfully arranged for an additional lounger chair to be brought into the room; it provided instant comfort.
They worked tirelessly with devotion and the highest level of skill. They knew how to explain complicated procedures in a language we could understand. We felt like we were being trained to be part of the solution in making Mom well. In many ways, our nurses served as the quarterbacks of our care team. We always knew which teammates we would be working with because they wrote it on the whiteboard. They introduced one around, and said how much they respected them and their work. After our time together, we can see why, and we wholeheartedly agree.
Throughout the time that Mom was in recovery at Union, one of her three children was by her side. Often, it was two or three of us. So we had many opportunities to see whether and how her nurses took care of each other when it was time to change shifts. They welcomed PT, OT, Environmental Services, and other colleagues into the room as if they were one of the family. After Mom’s stay, it felt like they were. And, we’re eternally grateful. In sum, our nurses’ nurturing made the hospital stay beyond safe — it was therapeutic.
We felt comfortable bringing Mom home because — together with our doctors, therapists, and support team members — we already knew what successful care and recovery looked like. The highest compliment may be how much the nurses complimented their colleagues when they weren’t there. Just a few examples of their above-and-beyond efforts:
If Mom pushed the call button from her bed, they’d immediately respond with a warm, non-agitated urgency. Plus, they’d anticipate needs before we made them, such as warm prune juice or just-frozen ice packs. They even learned her preference for staying hydrated: diet ginger ale, heavy on the ice. Their consummate attention extended to Mom’s family, too. At one point, after waking up at 3:30 am, one of us was tired and falling asleep in an upright four-legged chair. They thoughtfully arranged for an additional lounger chair to be brought into the room; it provided instant comfort.
They worked tirelessly with devotion and the highest level of skill. They knew how to explain complicated procedures in a language we could understand. We felt like we were being trained to be part of the solution in making Mom well. In many ways, our nurses served as the quarterbacks of our care team. We always knew which teammates we would be working with because they wrote it on the whiteboard. They introduced one around, and said how much they respected them and their work. After our time together, we can see why, and we wholeheartedly agree.