Fiona Burke
June 2025
Fiona
Burke
,
MSN RN, SCRN, CMSRN-BC
Armstrong
Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
Columbia
,
MD
United States
On what was one of the worst days of my life, Fiona brought calm to the chaos.
My family and I brought my mom into the emergency room with signs of a stroke—something that shook us to our core. From the moment Fiona was assigned as our nurse, we felt the shift from panic to purpose. She immediately outlined the game plan, walking us through the process of getting the necessary CT and MRI scans, and continued performing neurological assessments to monitor my mom closely.
Throughout the long and uncertain wait, Fiona never once let us feel forgotten. She checked in often, not just on my mom’s condition, but on our emotional well-being. She explained, with calm confidence, that the doctors were fully engaged behind the scenes, even when to us it felt like we were just waiting. Her steady updates and genuine reassurance helped soothe our fears time and again.
Fiona took the time to answer every question my family had—and there were many. She made sure we knew we weren’t just sitting idly; care was happening even if it wasn’t always visible. When she saw the fear on my sister’s and my faces, she gently shared that she had gone through a similar experience with her father having a stroke, showing us not only compassion but a deep personal understanding. She said she understands being on our side as the family in the hospital, and was very clear she knew how it was being in our shoes. Her words—that we were in the best place and my mom was getting the best possible care—meant the world to us in that moment.
At one point, trying to distract ourselves, we started watching coverage of the Kentucky Derby. Fiona joined us in that moment of escape, sharing stories about growing up near Belmont Racetrack. It was such a small gesture, but one that brought comfort and normalcy.
When my mom began struggling to speak clearly, tears started flowing in the room. Fiona immediately sprang into action, conducting a neurological assessment and quickly getting a doctor to evaluate her. Her swift response and attentiveness reassured us once again that my mom was in the best hands.
On what was one of the worst days of my life, Fiona brought calm to the chaos. Her professionalism, empathy, and unwavering dedication didn’t just make a difference—they made all the difference. We are so grateful for her and wholeheartedly believe she is a true DAISY Nurse."
Throughout the long and uncertain wait, Fiona never once let us feel forgotten. She checked in often, not just on my mom’s condition, but on our emotional well-being. She explained, with calm confidence, that the doctors were fully engaged behind the scenes, even when to us it felt like we were just waiting. Her steady updates and genuine reassurance helped soothe our fears time and again.
Fiona took the time to answer every question my family had—and there were many. She made sure we knew we weren’t just sitting idly; care was happening even if it wasn’t always visible. When she saw the fear on my sister’s and my faces, she gently shared that she had gone through a similar experience with her father having a stroke, showing us not only compassion but a deep personal understanding. She said she understands being on our side as the family in the hospital, and was very clear she knew how it was being in our shoes. Her words—that we were in the best place and my mom was getting the best possible care—meant the world to us in that moment.
At one point, trying to distract ourselves, we started watching coverage of the Kentucky Derby. Fiona joined us in that moment of escape, sharing stories about growing up near Belmont Racetrack. It was such a small gesture, but one that brought comfort and normalcy.
When my mom began struggling to speak clearly, tears started flowing in the room. Fiona immediately sprang into action, conducting a neurological assessment and quickly getting a doctor to evaluate her. Her swift response and attentiveness reassured us once again that my mom was in the best hands.
On what was one of the worst days of my life, Fiona brought calm to the chaos. Her professionalism, empathy, and unwavering dedication didn’t just make a difference—they made all the difference. We are so grateful for her and wholeheartedly believe she is a true DAISY Nurse."