Sarah Nordby
April 2026
Sarah
Nordby
,
RN
A4
Munson Medical Center
Traverse City
,
MI
United States
I cannot begin to express how much this had a positive effect on my spirit and anxieties.
I couldn't wait to get home from my 3-day stay on the Telemetry unit, both to return to normal life, where I can best heal, and equally to take the time to articulate this award nomination.
First, I have to call out the entire telemetry nursing and patient care staff for making my stay that much easier. As somebody used to being on the other side of the clinical dynamic, one of my greatest fears has always been to endure a hospital stay, especially one where my heart needed investigation. Every nurse and nursing assistant was beyond kind, attentive, and compassionate.
For all three nights, 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., Sarah was assigned my care. She is a vibrant, natural healer who showed the highest level of patient-centered care and, of equal and great importance, treated her colleagues and staff with the utmost respect and a "how can I help" attitude. On my second night, I triggered a rapid response team notification after passing out while getting up. The first person who held me up was Sarah, who was reassuring and matched my sense of humor, which I used, as it was admittedly embarrassing to have all the attention on me during the episode. Having sustained a mild laceration from hitting my head, she helped get me up to the bed, prepared a cold washcloth, and assured me everything was going to be just fine.
After the rapid response team left, she came back to the room after asking what my favorite color was. Much to my surprise, she brought two miniature plastic Jesus figures to Watch Over Me. She knew I was Christian, and she may not know it, but this put me in tears of gratitude. I had shared that I was very nervous for my scheduled Interventional cardiac procedure the next day, and she felt this gesture would provide comfort. I cannot begin to express how much this had a positive effect on my spirit and anxieties. I originally told her my favorite color is orange, at which time she said I need another color, so I said blue, and of course, maize. She brought both a maize and blue figure to the counter facing me, and later came back with an orange one that she found with my actual favorite color afterwards.
This action sounds so simple, but it had a profound impact on my stay, aside from her diligent care, expert communication, and sense of humor. Nurses like Sarah should be honored every day, and if this award is a one-time opportunity to recognize her, then let's start there! With gratitude.
First, I have to call out the entire telemetry nursing and patient care staff for making my stay that much easier. As somebody used to being on the other side of the clinical dynamic, one of my greatest fears has always been to endure a hospital stay, especially one where my heart needed investigation. Every nurse and nursing assistant was beyond kind, attentive, and compassionate.
For all three nights, 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., Sarah was assigned my care. She is a vibrant, natural healer who showed the highest level of patient-centered care and, of equal and great importance, treated her colleagues and staff with the utmost respect and a "how can I help" attitude. On my second night, I triggered a rapid response team notification after passing out while getting up. The first person who held me up was Sarah, who was reassuring and matched my sense of humor, which I used, as it was admittedly embarrassing to have all the attention on me during the episode. Having sustained a mild laceration from hitting my head, she helped get me up to the bed, prepared a cold washcloth, and assured me everything was going to be just fine.
After the rapid response team left, she came back to the room after asking what my favorite color was. Much to my surprise, she brought two miniature plastic Jesus figures to Watch Over Me. She knew I was Christian, and she may not know it, but this put me in tears of gratitude. I had shared that I was very nervous for my scheduled Interventional cardiac procedure the next day, and she felt this gesture would provide comfort. I cannot begin to express how much this had a positive effect on my spirit and anxieties. I originally told her my favorite color is orange, at which time she said I need another color, so I said blue, and of course, maize. She brought both a maize and blue figure to the counter facing me, and later came back with an orange one that she found with my actual favorite color afterwards.
This action sounds so simple, but it had a profound impact on my stay, aside from her diligent care, expert communication, and sense of humor. Nurses like Sarah should be honored every day, and if this award is a one-time opportunity to recognize her, then let's start there! With gratitude.