I had the honor to care for a Veteran patient who began to describe to me why he loves the Providence VA. He added enthusiastically that he came back to from out of state to have his surgery. He spoke of how he trusts the care here. He then began to tell me the story how he lived through Covid in December of 2020 here at the Providence VA because of Nurse Sara Emmott. “I will NEVER FORGET her,” He said. He said his oxygen saturations were dropping and the doctors were considering to intubate him. He described teetering on getting intubated and considering making himself a DNR/DNI and giving up. He said it was when Nurse Sara started talking with him about his grandchildren and providing examples of his importance to them and others while giving him hope for recovery that changed his mind about giving up. He said her talks gave him enough inspiration to fight, and he will be ever grateful. He further said that even when she was not his Nurse, she would stop by to check on him at the end of her shift. So, yes I had a tear in my eye while he was telling me this story and reflecting how words of this Nurse truly saved his life. I was just so happy for him and the healthy life he is living and enjoying with his family.

I am also so proud to know that I work in a facility filled with Nurses like Sara. Knowing Sara, I was not surprised at the amazing and caring way she took care of him. Sara’s story epitomizes the ideals of the DAISY Award and how Nurses connect with patients in the ways described by nurse theorists like Jean Watson. The patient was unaware of a way to say thank you to Sara and told me he wished he could tell her how much she meant to him. I looked up on teams and was able to use Vocera to let him speak with her directly with Sara and his interaction was so amazing. I provided the patient information on the DAISY Award but in the case he is unable to write in I felt compelled to share his story with our fellow Nurses and leadership.

This is just one of hundreds of heroic stories that occurred during COVID-19 that continue to be told by grateful patients and, in the patient's words, "Never Forgotten". As we reflect on experiences as nurses we sometimes forget the significant impact a seemingly small gesture such as checking on a patient at the end of our shift or a seemingly innocent discussion that provides inspiration and hope and in this case a will to live in a seemingly hopeless situation. I hope this nomination can serve as a reminder to all of us of the importance we play in our patients’ lives.