My sister has been in the ICU for a week now. One of the biggest reasons she will get to leave the ICU is the care she received from Angie. Meticulous in her care, always observing but never hovering, Angie has provided graceful care. What has struck me is not how many times she has inserted a new IV or checked my sister's breathing, but how she has done it with enthusiasm, in a way that communicated to us all that she wanted to help my sister. Her steadfastness and clear understanding not only of the clinical picture but also for the emotional picture has allowed us to trust her completely. She understands my sister.
When my sister was struggling to breathe, Angie was calm and reassuring. Today, when my sister took her first walk, Angie was congratulatory and excited for her. As she has improved, Angie has sensed my sister's need for humor and responded in kind. The ability to provide what a patient needs emotionally on top of what a patient needs physically is a true gift of patience. Angie has encouraged us to help my sister whenever possible. She has allowed and encouraged me to wash my sister's face and help her eat. She has answered all of our questions honestly in a way that has inspired our trust. I trust Angie because she looks us in the eye when she talks to us and takes the time to educate us about my sister's care. Angie inspires trust. Finally, I want to say that Angie is an excellent mentor. She is mentoring our friend, who is doing a fellowship in the ICU. She is patient, encouraging and clearly enables him to learn by watching and doing. Saint John's is lucky to have such a wonderful nurse who takes incredible, compassionate care of her patients while she is also training and encouraging a new nurse to learn. Angie is true DAISY Nurse, she has given us so much and we will never forget her. Thank you!