My 81-year-old father was admitted for chest pain on exertion. From the time Max introduced himself, his kindness shone through. As a seasoned ICU RN and former director of ICU and Med Surg, I'm always interested in watching new nurses' skills. I asked Max how long he had been a nurse, and he said, "Nine months." Not only did Max do the full computer assessment but he also did a textbook physical assessment. He methodically assessed every system. I was surprised and impressed by this.

My father has difficulty hearing and also enjoys joking and telling stories. Even though Max had five other patients, he never rushed my father. He allowed him time to finish every answer and every story. Max answered every question Dad had and was willing to stay as long as needed. When Max left the room, he told us he would be back in 5 to 10 minutes. Indeed, he returned within 10 minutes. Max goes out of his way to make certain everything is done right. He's very thorough and pays close attention to every detail. He's a very hard worker but never lets stress show, therefore putting Dad at ease every time he walks into the room.

Max is a strong patient advocate. He would be considered to be a young nurse only nine months into his career, but his compassion is that of a seasoned veteran. My father would announce to everyone in the room, "There's a good man right there," as Max walked into the room every time.