Mentor, teacher, leader, expert nurse: These are just a few of the ways that colleagues and leaders describe Andris Soble, BSN, CCRN-CSC, of the Cardiac Surgery ICU.

“Andris taught me the importance of critical care, but he also taught me what it means to care for someone when they are at their sickest,” wrote Amber Callanan, BSN, RN, in nominating Soble for the award. “Andris truly individualizes each patient he cares for and treats them all with kindness.”

She recalled an overnight shift during her orientation when Soble was her preceptor. After they prepared a room for a new heart transplant patient, Soble drew a small cross in the top right corner of the whiteboard – an action that had a lasting impact on Callanan.

“Andris pulled me aside to discuss the importance of patient-centered care,” she recalled.

Soble told her that if he was fortunate enough to know the patient’s religious or spiritual beliefs upon their arrival, he would find a way to honor them in the room in some way. He had learned that this patient was a devout Christian.

“This moment will stay with me for the rest of my life. His lasting gift to me as a novice nurse was observing the way he cares for patients with kindness, love and respect,” said Callanan, who has now worked with Soble for 1.5 years.

Soble was drawn to the profession of nursing while working in Environmental Services at another hospital early on in his career. He was inspired by a nurse who opened his eyes to the art of nursing.

“Impressed by his bedside manner and mentorship, I knew my purpose was to become a registered nurse,” said Soble.

Jay Saggu, MD, DMD, of Anesthesiology, left, and Justin Culshaw, PharmD, of Pharmacy, right, with Andris Soble

He has now worked in the Cardiac Surgery ICU for 35 years and served as a preceptor and mentor to many new nurses. He also has continued to advance his own skills, volunteering to receive training as an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) specialist.

“ECMO is a highly complex, resource-intensive intervention that supports some of our sickest patients,” he said. “I am proud to help BWH save more lives.”

Soble has been part of many efforts to improve the quality of care for cardiac surgery patients and their families. He has participated on the unit-based practice council and led quality improvement projects focused on improving intubation time, increasing patient mobility and decreasing hospital-acquired pressure injuries.

Soble’s many contributions to the unit also include serving as a peer educator and teaching an introductory class on ventricular assist devices.

“Andris’ style as a peer educator is interactive, patient and nonjudgmental,” wrote Maria Bentain-Melanson, DNP, CCRN, nursing director, in a letter of support. “He inserts humor into hard-to-grasp concepts to ease the pressure. His expertise and mastery of the subjects has earned him the respect of his colleagues.”

His clinical expertise and ability to care for the unit’s most complex patients have been invaluable to all members of the multidisciplinary team.

Sary Aranki, MD, of Cardiac Surgery, was a resident when he first met Soble. “Andris continues to serve BWH with full enthusiasm, commitment, collaboration and devotion to high standards. These qualities have not changed since I first worked with Andris 30 years ago,” he wrote. “I have absolute trust that Andris will do the right thing for my patients.”

Soble earned his BSN from Emmanuel College and his diploma from the New England Baptist School of Nursing.

Nominated by Amber Callanan, BSN, RN, with letters of support from Maria Bentain-

Melanson, DNP, CCRN, nursing director, and Sary Aranki, MD, of Cardiac Surgery