In January of this year, my dad and I were involved in a head-on automobile accident. Due to his injuries and age (90), he was immediately transported from the accident scene to the Emergency Department at Inland Valley Medical Center. As with most serious accident patients in the E.D., I imagine this can be one of the worst days of their lives.

First, you’re in shock, and then you’re scared. Questions pour into your head: How bad am I hurt? What does this mean for me? Will I live through this? Will I have permanent injuries? Will I walk again? At Dad’s age, all of us were really concerned. Let me say first that everyone in the E.D. that night was super professional and helpful. One thing I realized during dad’s time there, too, was the urgent and quick nature of the Emergency Department.

Because of this, the E.D. nursing staff doesn’t really have much time to sit and build patient relationships like nurses on the hospital floor do. And I doubt very many E.D. staff get recognized as much as they should. That’s why our experience with one specific nurse, Brittaney, was so impactful to us. We knew we had to reach out and submit her for the DAISY Award. She was the angel my dad and our family really needed that night.

From the very first interaction Brittaney had with my dad, she built a rapport that put him at ease. She cared enough to even find a commonality they shared, the gym they both go to. This let him know he had someone there helping him, who was not just doing their job, but a friend. She continued to care for him with positive conversation and recognizing my dad’s sense of humor, some playful bantering, too. This really lowered his stress level and helped take his mind off his injuries.

She also went above and beyond, keeping us and him informed on what was happening and the next steps. She offered to text us so we could step out and make phone calls to family or have a conversation outside his room. Knowing she was caring for him gave us huge comfort and confidence in the care he was receiving. Some people just know how to make a deeper connection with others.

This connection puts people at ease and instills trust. Brittaney exemplifies this quality, and we were blessed to have her caring for my dad. I hope this recognition lets you know how valuable she is to your medical team at Inland Valley. No one in our family had ever been cared for at this Hospital, but one Nurse, Brittaney has made us raving fans now.