Josiah was my nurse for a few hours during my colonoscopy procedure (pre, during, and post). I could see in our first few sentences he was a nurse who was kind, caring, and a person of integrity. Those are the first preliminary requirements I am inclined to look for. You can, of course, be fooled and proved wrong later, but that was not the case with him.
First compliment: He's skilled. When he went for my right arm vein, I told him all nurses call that my "bad side." Only one nurse prior was able to find a vein there. But he said it needed to be on that side. It took him about three seconds to get that big needle in and my IV fluids running. He's highly skilled.
Second compliment: He's energetic without looking strained. Every time I asked him a question, especially about the other colonoscopy done about ten years ago, he went out to the computer and came back with the answer. I was surprised and delighted. I'm used to answers like, "I'd like to, but I'm just too busy now" or "maybe later" or "I don't think I can get you those answers," etc. Amazing! He's just amazing!
Third compliment: His formal education is evident. You can't fake intelligence. His clinical answers to my other questions were believable, clear, and concise. He knew what he was talking about. No pretense. I'm sure he has spent a lot of time studying from textbooks. Therefore, integrity is proven here.
Fourth compliment: I've heard it said that confidence is catchy. I had a very bad experience with my last colonoscopy, so I was very scared about this one. We talked about it, the pain, the post-op bleeding, everything. He told me, "Don't worry, I have you covered," or "I got your back" or something like that. But whatever it was, I believed him, and he proved it to be true for me. He didn't disappoint me. This time I didn't go home bleeding into diapers for days, and none of the other terrifying things that happened to me the last time. When I caught his confidence, I was able to breathe easier.
Fifth compliment: Whistling. I'm not sure, and maybe I can be proven wrong, but every time, like in the initial workup, when he walked away for a minute, I thought I heard him whistling a little tune in, which was in stark contrast to the tension coming from the ambiance in the room. It definitely made me breathe easier. Maybe it was someone else, but I can't imagine who it would be. I think he was the whistler.
Sixth compliment: Resolver. I had a personal issue that needed to be addressed, which wasn't too big of a challenge for him to resolve. He took it into his own hands, and I am forever grateful.
Josiah is truly an excellent and honorable nurse. I would say with this reference and the person he is, he can go to work anywhere else in the entire world he chooses. At the VA hospital, he is truly my nurse, Rockstar!!