Milena was articulate, compassionate, thorough, patient, professional, cheerful, and knowledgeable. She took the time to explain very clearly what was being done and why, putting things into terms that were easily understood by people who are outside the medical profession. She answered every question we asked, and even some that we had not asked yet (but were about to).
I joked with her that she spoke and acted like a nurse twice her age - someone who had been serving this way for many years. The reality is, though, that I wasn't joking, I really felt that way. She had a presence about her that immediately told me she knew what she was doing - and that's a calming and refreshing trait for an ER nurse. Throughout the evening, it was clear that she is very skilled in her job, but more importantly, she had an attitude that told us she truly cares about her patients.
Milena is exactly what the DAISY Award is all about - demonstrating care and compassion through her role, in a setting that can be extremely stressful to patients.