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When husband and wife doctors were experiencing a hospital from the patient perspective, they were out of their comfort zone and feeling uneasy. The husband, Michael, had been airlifted to UVA from another hospital due to the severity of his condition.When the couple arrived in the Thoracic/Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Micah Smith, RN, was there to allay their fears. The patient’s wife felt safe and at ease when her husband was under Micah’s care. She nominated him for a DAISY Award, which he received at a surprise ceremony in February. Read the full nomination below.

“My husband had a saddle pulmonary embolism a few months ago. He coded several times at our hospital and then was flown to UVA. He was placed on ECMO [extracorporeal membrane oxygenation] for five days.

“He is an emergency room/urgent-care doctor, and I am an OB-GYN. We have observed a lot of hospitals and units. Needless to say, we were terrified.

“My husband's second day here, Micah arrived and cared for Michael for the next three days. His clinical skills were extraordinary. I learned to recognize the close sweep of his evaluation every time he came in. Michael had to roll to his right side for procedures (which was a thing given the ECMO cannulas), and Micah would gently slide his hand under his cheek to protect it from the bed rail. When they were setting up for the decannulation, he double checked every line several times, absolutely clear on all.

“More than that, he is kind, empathetic, smart, and funny. He made me feel safe in a very unsafe time. I believe that this care for both me and my husband embodies the best in nursing care. The root word for nurse is ‘nutrire,’ to nourish. He helped keep us going in the darkest days with his kindness and professionalism. He is exactly the one anyone would desire in a crisis.”

Nomination edited for clarity.

Know a fabulous nurse?
The Professional Nursing Staff Organization honors up to two UVA RNs each month with a DAISY Award. Nominations may be submitted by patients, patient families, visitors, and fellow UVA team members. Learn more at uvadaisy.com.