My brother is currently admitted to the 8th floor ICU. My brother has a very complicated medical history. When he is admitted to a hospital, he’s always in critical condition. He has multiple cardiac issues, renal failure, type 1 DM, an artificial heart and pulmonary valves, circulatory issues, etc. I have been an RN for 27 years and work at a hospital in Montgomery, where I spend the majority of my time in Risk Management, addressing any potential issues that can arise in healthcare. I’m very close to my brother. We talk daily. He has been admitted to multiple hospitals in both Columbus and Atlanta over the past two years.

This morning I drove 2 hours to see him. He was not doing well. Sierra was his nurse. She entered the room when she saw me, introduced herself, and asked about my relationship with her patient. I had so many questions. I’ve become accustomed to staff providing me with just tidbits of information or not knowing the answers. But Sierra was so different. It was obvious that she had taken the time to research my brother's chart, which is as complicated as it is. She gave such comprehensive and thorough answers. When asked about today’s labs, imaging, etc., she knew the results without having to look in his chart. She also showed us such compassion. He was mostly confused but had some lucid moments in which he could answer questions appropriately. She made sure she communicated with him during those moments. She even shared stories with me in which my brother told her about his recent vacation and about his kids. She obviously took the time to get to know him as a person, not just another patient assigned to her.

I could see from the communication board that she had been turning him every hour. His heels were properly floated. His arms were propped just perfectly on pillows. I watched her swab his mouth several times. She took time to give him tiny sips of water for comfort. She was thorough in detailing his treatment plan and goals. I tried to get to the hospital early enough to speak with the hospitalist, but unfortunately, he had already rounded when I arrived. Sierra found the doctor was still in the ICU, and she asked him to come and speak with me before he left the unit. The doctor came and spoke with me. I’ve always had a hard time leaving my brother when he’s hospitalized, but today was different. I felt confident I was leaving him in great hands. Sierra is a shining star. She is a great listener. She’s so intelligent and very thorough. She’s compassionate, empathetic, and just downright kind. She is a model nurse! My family appreciated her care and attention to detail. She encouraged us to call her for any questions at all. She appears to be extremely passionate about her role as an ICU RN.