Andrew Choina
May 2025
Andrew
Choina
,
BSN, RN
CICU
Ochsner Medical Center- New Orleans
New Orleans
,
LA
United States
What makes Andrew extraordinary isn't just his clinical skill -- though that is undeniable. It's the way he combines his skills with an intuition and kindness that made me feel like I was his only patient, even though I know there were plenty of others.
I have never believed that angels walk among us until I met my nurse, Andrew. I was admitted to the hospital under terrifying circumstances: I had experienced sudden complications from a chronic illness, and everything in my world felt uncertain. But from the moment Andrew walked into my room, something shifted. He didn't just care for me. He saw me. He made eye contact, knelt beside my bed, and said, We've got you. You're not alone. That was the first time I had taken a full breath in hours. What makes Andrew extraordinary isn't just his clinical skill -- though that is undeniable. It's the way he combines his skills with an intuition and kindness that made me feel like I was his only patient, even though I know there were plenty of others.
One moment I'll never forget happened on my second night. I was in severe pain, nauseated, and mentally exhausted. I hadn't eaten in over 24 hours. Andrew came in, saw my tears, and instead of just checking my chart, he came up to the side of my bed and said, "Let's get through this together." He gently adjusted my IV, helped calm my breathing, and then did something no one else had done: He brought me a warm washcloth, covered me with a thicker blanket, and stayed until I fell asleep. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to.
When my daughter visited the next evening, anxious and scared to see her mom so sick, Andrew took the time to talk with her. He explained the machines in kid-friendly language and gave her some juice. My daughter left smiling. I cried tears of relief. Andrew also caught a critical detail that others missed. It was a subtle change in my lab values that could have signaled an early infection. Because he advocated for me and acted quickly, I was started on antibiotics that likely prevented a much worse outcome. And even leading up to discharge, he made sure I understood every medication, helped me schedule follow-ups, and wrote down reminders in my own words.
Andrew didn't just deliver care. He delivered dignity. He delivered hope. And he reminded me and my family that even in the scariest moments, compassion is the most powerful medicine of all. There are good nurses, and there are great nurses. But Andrew is something more; he is unforgettable. And for that, he is a true DAISY Nurse.
One moment I'll never forget happened on my second night. I was in severe pain, nauseated, and mentally exhausted. I hadn't eaten in over 24 hours. Andrew came in, saw my tears, and instead of just checking my chart, he came up to the side of my bed and said, "Let's get through this together." He gently adjusted my IV, helped calm my breathing, and then did something no one else had done: He brought me a warm washcloth, covered me with a thicker blanket, and stayed until I fell asleep. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to.
When my daughter visited the next evening, anxious and scared to see her mom so sick, Andrew took the time to talk with her. He explained the machines in kid-friendly language and gave her some juice. My daughter left smiling. I cried tears of relief. Andrew also caught a critical detail that others missed. It was a subtle change in my lab values that could have signaled an early infection. Because he advocated for me and acted quickly, I was started on antibiotics that likely prevented a much worse outcome. And even leading up to discharge, he made sure I understood every medication, helped me schedule follow-ups, and wrote down reminders in my own words.
Andrew didn't just deliver care. He delivered dignity. He delivered hope. And he reminded me and my family that even in the scariest moments, compassion is the most powerful medicine of all. There are good nurses, and there are great nurses. But Andrew is something more; he is unforgettable. And for that, he is a true DAISY Nurse.