There is not simply one quality that makes up a good nurse. There are hundreds. Some are big and others so subtle that the nurses themselves don't even recognize them as essential. Coulson, a day nurse on floor 5 at Kaiser Vallejo, is the type of nurse any hospital would champion as one of its best and brightest.

Here are some of his qualities, big and small:

He reads the room as he enters. He's quiet and whispers as he asks to turn on the light, and is cheerful and bright as he sees his patient sitting up and smiling. He explains medical procedures and results in relatable terms to a non-medically trained patient. He is knowledgeable and precise in his care. He's patient and gentle; there were no abrupt movements as he removed an IV, no pulling on my sheets, no crashing trays and materials around the room.

He also has strong listening skills, even nodding and responding as he drew blood or took vitals. He's empathetic, friendly, flexible, and humble. I always love it when someone admits that they may not have an answer, but will "get back to me" after some research. Coulson's greatest characteristic as a nurse is his sense of peace. He has very calm vibes, which should be listed on his resume! He just didn't get frazzled. I'm sure that I wasn't his most difficult patient, but it didn't matter; he showed me all the characteristics needed to help me get well.

Another characteristic of Coulson's daily nursing tools is that he provides individual care for the unique and specific needs of his patients. I left to participate in Kaiser's Home Care program, and actually missed him as I took my own vitals the next day. I don't have a tenth of the nurse qualifications that Coulson has. He deserves a field of daisies and one special DAISY Award to acknowledge publicly what a fantastic nursing staff Kaiser Vallejo offers. Thank you.