After an incredibly long stay in the ER, we were greeted by this incredible nurse, Kyle. He was compassionate, cheerful, and caring. He knew my daughter’s extensive medical history well before we even arrived on the unit. It was such a relief to know that Kyle was well prepared. It was almost as if I could feel the stress of our hospital stay melt away in that moment of our first interaction. I appreciate how detail-oriented he remained when he verbalized his initial assessment of my daughter. I appreciated his recommendations and the concerns he wanted to express to the physician. He was always warm and kind, no matter how upset or fussy my daughter became. As a nurse myself, I was inspired by him to improve my own practice. I personally hope to be a nurse like him someday!

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Kyle breathes life into every room he steps into. The positive energy he brings to the room is refreshing. He was on top of all my son’s medications, treatments, and catching things that might need attention. He is so friendly and feels like family now. We have enjoyed every conversation we have had with this particular nurse. He is truly fantastic and a gift to children in the hospital.

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He was always nice and funny and made our daughter laugh. She told us today, “I woke up this morning, saw his name on the board as my day nurse, and it made me smile. I was so happy!”

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Kyle was exceptional. He took time out of his busy schedule to connect with me on a personal level by playing chess and discussing my interests. He never made me feel like “just” a patient or part of his duties. I felt like he took an interest in me as a person, not just in my diagnosis. As a teen, being several hours away from friends and family and unable to participate in my usual activities, I felt like I had a friend in him. All the nurses and care partners did a great job, but this nurse went above and beyond and deserves special recognition.