As HealthCare workers, we see lots of patients who could use a patient advocate. I would like to recognize a nurse who went above and beyond for a patient who, at the time of surgery, did not have an advocate…Rachel Gamble. Rachel not only exhibits excellent nursing skills, but she also exhibits compassion and caring. Recently, our unit had a patient who needed surgery. The patient had co-morbidities that may have prevented a positive outcome. Rachel conferred with the providers caring for this patient, and she ensured that the patient had the best possible outcome. I feel that if this patient could nominate Rachel for her care of him and for helping him through his surgery, he would be writing this himself.

After the surgery was completed, a physician came up to the unit to personally thank her for the excellent care that she had given this patient. He felt that she went out of her way to provide excellent care, and he wanted her to be given recognition. His recognition of Rachel was very sincere and heartfelt.

On the same day, another physician walked up to the nurse's desk and spoke to Rachel about a patient. After he spoke with her about this patient, he stated that he and another physician were conversing about her skills and that she was thought of very highly. He praised her for her excellent nursing skills and said he just wanted to let her know the impact that she made. Rachel's skills as a nurse are unmatched, and she is such an asset to our unit and the hospital. I am very proud to work alongside her. She is the nurse who has the back of her teammates, and she has genuine concern that is so needed in our health care system today.