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TOM PLANTE: WELLSTAR KENNESTONE HOSPITAL
Sitting beside his father's hospital bed about a year ago, Mike Hines and his family knew that time was short. It was difficult, but, because of one of the nurses at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, the Hines family was prepared.
"Not many days pass that I don't think about my father [Don Mitchell Hines], but I also think about a very special person who cared for him in intensive care," Hines said. "Tom Plante also cared for our family in our time of need, showing compassion beyond belief."
Plante, RN, who works in the coronary care unit at Kennestone, has been a nurse for 11 years. He didn't initially plan to be a nurse.
"Nursing chose me," said the former New Yorker who had a 14-year career in printing.
"When the recession hit in the printing business, I decided to go back to school to be an X-ray technician. I signed up for all the allied health courses, and the nursing school called me with an opening, so that's what I did."
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After graduating, Plante, 47, moved to Georgia and began working at Kennestone. He plans to continue working in the coronary care unit until he retires.
"There's such a cohesive group of co-workers here and exceptional management," he said. "We work as a team and just know what to expect from each other. I can't be the nurse I am without my co-workers."
Hines nominated Plante for nurse of the year.
"I saw Tom's true character when he began to tear up as he told us that we were in the final minutes of my father's life," he said. "Tom is a real man. It was hard losing my dad, but Tom made it a positive experience in humanity and renewed my faith in the spirit of each and every person. He affirms in me that nurses have something special."
-- Pamela A. Keene
Nominated By: Mike Hines
My father died almost a year ago at Wellstar Kennestone, and not many days pass that I don't think of him. I also think about a very special person who cared for him in intensive care but, also as important, cared for my family in our time of need.
This man provided us with all the special care that any human could offer.
While my father was spending his last hours on Earth, Tom talked candidly with us and without a doubt, showed compassion beyond belief, explaining the gravity of the situation.
During my father's ongoing illness, I never saw any other healthcare worker with such a heart.
I saw Tom's true character when he started to tear up when he told us that we were in the final minutes of my father's life.
It was hard losing my dad, but Tom Plante made it positive experience in humanity and renewed my faith in the spirit of each and every person.
He affirms for me the fact that nurses have something special, and he is one of the finest examples of what nursing is all about.
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