Nurse carries forward compassionate care that inspired her growing up
Inspired by the care her family once received, Samantha Rosonke, DNP, ARNP, now pays that care forward by being a steady, empathetic presence at the bedside for patients and families.
For Samantha Rosonke, DNP, ARNP, nursing is grounded in three guiding principles: being an active listener, being a safe and trusted advocate, and showing empathy.
These values guided her on a day when choosing a different patient assignment in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) would have been the easier option. Rosonke recognized that one patient’s family was facing difficult decisions and would need a steady, compassionate presence. She drew on her experience in the CVICU and her earlier work with a hospice organization during college to help guide the family as they shifted from pursing treatment toward focusing on comfort, dignity, and honoring the patient’s wishes.
Rosonke stood by the patient’s sibling as they conveyed the decision to their other family members. She also called in a supportive care nurse to provide additional support and to ensure the patient’s wishes were granted, including prayer, singing hymns, and creating a safe environment for the family to say goodbye to their loved one.
“This patient was a good example of how to prepare for a serious medical event. They had taken time to complete their advanced directives, discuss their personal quality of life guidelines with their sibling, who was their designated power of attorney, and to specifically define what they wanted to happen if their passing was imminent,” says Rosonke. “That advanced planning helped us ensure their passing was respectful, dignified, and compassionate.
Rosonke’s presence left a lasting impact, one that ultimately led the patient’s family to nominate her for a DAISY Award.
“From the time I met her, I knew she was on my side,” wrote the family member who nominated Rosonke. “She is so kind and so caring she deserves to be recognized. Thank you so much for what you did for my family and myself. You are so deserving, and we will never forget you.”
“What could be a normal Tuesday for the CVICU team could be our patient’s worst day, so it’s important to keep that perspective,” notes Rosonke. “I am fortunate that the UI College of Nursing and UI Health Care both teach us how to be patient-centered and recognize that the patient is a person both in and out of the hospital.”
From being inspired to making an impact
In the CVICU, progress is often measured in small, hard-earned steps, and Rosonke is intentional about helping patients and families understand each one. She takes care to explain what she’s doing without medical jargon and to highlight moments of progress that might otherwise feel insignificant.
“I try to celebrate the little wins with my patients,” says Rosonke. “If they get out of bed and go to a chair, that’s a win. If their medication decreases or they can stop taking one altogether, that’s a win. We try to give patients something to be positive about and to share with their family and friends.”
That same patient-centered approach continues to guide Rosonke in her current role as a family nurse practitioner within the Department of Family and Community Medicine at UI Health Care’s West Branch clinic. Choosing to advocate for her patients comes naturally to her because of early experiences with her family’s medical care which ultimately led her to pursue a nursing career. Growing up in central Iowa, she spent years accompanying her grandparents to cancer treatments and medical appointments, where her grandmother’s nurse practitioner made a lasting impression.
“She explained my grandma’s diagnosis, treatment, and options in a way that not only gave my grandma clarity but helped me understand what was happening too, even as a middle and high schooler,” recalls Rosonke. “She listened, showed empathy, and over time became a trusted resource for our family. Her approach to patient care was truly inspiring.”
When Rosonke later applied to the UI College of Nursing, that same nurse practitioner wrote a letter of recommendation for her. Years later, when Rosonke was recognized with a DAISY Award, she reached out again, this time to congratulate her.
“For me, that moment was a reminder of how much nurses influence one another,” says Rosonke. “We learn by watching, by supporting each other, and by showing up with compassion day after day. If I can be that person for a patient, a family, or even another nurse, then I know I’m doing something right.”
