Amanda M Boutin
April 2026
Amanda M
Boutin
,
RN
3 Tower Sugical ICU
Lake Charles Memorial Health System
Lake Charles
,
LA
United States
Amanda embodies what it means to truly be an extraordinary nurse, and this is just a snapshot of the compassionate care I see her provide every day she is on shift.
Working with Amanda for a couple of years, there are many instances where I see how compassionate and caring a nurse she is. There is one patient who stuck out to me that I felt compelled to write this nomination. Over the weekend, a gentleman came in with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and Amanda and her orientee ended up taking that admit. The patient was a very young man with a young child, and his encounter in the ICU was very emotional for all involved. Even though he was only in our care for a very short amount of time, Amanda developed a bond and relationship with the patient’s family. Ensuring all their needs were attended to during this difficult time in their lives. Amanda was there for this family throughout his entire hospital stay and insisted that she be the nurse to continue his care during his stay.
Soon after the patient was admitted to the hospital, the family made the decision to donate his organs. During the family’s last moments in the hospital room with their family members, Amanda went into the room to give her final condolences to the patient’s mother. After exchanging her condolences, Amanda handed the patient’s mother a letter she had written expressing how fortunate she felt to care for the patient and to get the opportunity to get to know him through their stories and memories. She commended the family on their decision to donate his life, offering other patients a priceless gift. They shared this final emotional moment during the last hours this patient was in our care. During this moment of loss and devastation, I know this mother will look back at this time, and I have no doubt that she will remember Amanda. She will remember her smile. She will remember her exceptional care and compassion for her son. She will remember that moment in that hospital room where Amanda took the time to share the memories of her son.
In the ICU, situations like these are unfortunately not uncommon, but seeing a nurse take the extra time to support a family in these moments makes me proud to work alongside team members like these. Amanda embodies what it means to truly be an extraordinary nurse, and this is just a snapshot of the compassionate care I see her provide every day she is on shift.
Soon after the patient was admitted to the hospital, the family made the decision to donate his organs. During the family’s last moments in the hospital room with their family members, Amanda went into the room to give her final condolences to the patient’s mother. After exchanging her condolences, Amanda handed the patient’s mother a letter she had written expressing how fortunate she felt to care for the patient and to get the opportunity to get to know him through their stories and memories. She commended the family on their decision to donate his life, offering other patients a priceless gift. They shared this final emotional moment during the last hours this patient was in our care. During this moment of loss and devastation, I know this mother will look back at this time, and I have no doubt that she will remember Amanda. She will remember her smile. She will remember her exceptional care and compassion for her son. She will remember that moment in that hospital room where Amanda took the time to share the memories of her son.
In the ICU, situations like these are unfortunately not uncommon, but seeing a nurse take the extra time to support a family in these moments makes me proud to work alongside team members like these. Amanda embodies what it means to truly be an extraordinary nurse, and this is just a snapshot of the compassionate care I see her provide every day she is on shift.