Luba Holm
May 2026
Luba
Holm
,
BSN, RN
Providence St. Vincent
Portland
,
OR
United States
My mother was recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and required an extended stay on the oncology unit. During this time, Luba was her primary nurse for four to five consecutive days, providing consistent, high-quality care that significantly impacted both my mother's recovery and our family's experience.
Luba demonstrated exceptional clinical judgment and interpersonal skill. She consistently balanced compassion with appropriate encouragement, recognizing the importance of early mobility and patient engagement. Rather than allowing my mother to withdraw due to fatigue and emotional overwhelm, Luba thoughtfully and respectfully motivated her to participate in her care and regain strength.
What distinguished Luba was her ability to individualize her approach. She quickly assessed my mother's personality, emotional state, and needs, then adjusted her communication style accordingly.
Luba exemplifies the highest standards of nursing practice. Her combination of clinical excellence, emotional intelligence, and patient-centered care made a meaningful difference during a very difficult time.
***
Luba was my nurse when I had a septic kidney infection. She went out of her way to make sure that I felt comfortable, even when I had a fever as high as almost 107°F. She was there for me throughout most of the entire week that I was hospitalized.
When things got really hard, Luba went out of her way to care for me beyond my physical needs. I had never stayed in a hospital for such a long period of time before, and Luba made it possible for me.
When I was at my worst, she was immediately there, always. She found out that I was interested in becoming a nurse myself, and she brought in nurses around my age who already worked at the hospital to talk with me about their experiences in nursing school and what it was like working as a nurse for St. Vincent.
In every aspect, Luba is the type of nurse every single person should have the opportunity to receive care from. She is above and beyond what you could ever ask for in a nurse. I know she deserves this award. She is what every hospital or healthcare organization could ever hope for in a nurse.
I just cannot say enough about how amazing her level of care was and what an incredible professional she is. When I was so sick I could barely even deal with being alive, she just knew how to handle me. She asked me questions about what I like to cook, and I could never get over how she somehow knew that was the one topic that could get me talking with a fever of nearly 107°F.
St. Vincent is lucky to have her. She's the kind of person we are so fortunate to have chosen to devote herself to healthcare.
Luba demonstrated exceptional clinical judgment and interpersonal skill. She consistently balanced compassion with appropriate encouragement, recognizing the importance of early mobility and patient engagement. Rather than allowing my mother to withdraw due to fatigue and emotional overwhelm, Luba thoughtfully and respectfully motivated her to participate in her care and regain strength.
What distinguished Luba was her ability to individualize her approach. She quickly assessed my mother's personality, emotional state, and needs, then adjusted her communication style accordingly.
Luba exemplifies the highest standards of nursing practice. Her combination of clinical excellence, emotional intelligence, and patient-centered care made a meaningful difference during a very difficult time.
***
Luba was my nurse when I had a septic kidney infection. She went out of her way to make sure that I felt comfortable, even when I had a fever as high as almost 107°F. She was there for me throughout most of the entire week that I was hospitalized.
When things got really hard, Luba went out of her way to care for me beyond my physical needs. I had never stayed in a hospital for such a long period of time before, and Luba made it possible for me.
When I was at my worst, she was immediately there, always. She found out that I was interested in becoming a nurse myself, and she brought in nurses around my age who already worked at the hospital to talk with me about their experiences in nursing school and what it was like working as a nurse for St. Vincent.
In every aspect, Luba is the type of nurse every single person should have the opportunity to receive care from. She is above and beyond what you could ever ask for in a nurse. I know she deserves this award. She is what every hospital or healthcare organization could ever hope for in a nurse.
I just cannot say enough about how amazing her level of care was and what an incredible professional she is. When I was so sick I could barely even deal with being alive, she just knew how to handle me. She asked me questions about what I like to cook, and I could never get over how she somehow knew that was the one topic that could get me talking with a fever of nearly 107°F.
St. Vincent is lucky to have her. She's the kind of person we are so fortunate to have chosen to devote herself to healthcare.