Alphonsa Muth-Meril is always kind, caring, and willing to learn. I worked with Alphonsa when she took care of a man who was confused, combative, and very agitated. Although he was medically unable to speak and was a very critical and difficult to care for patient, she never stopped showing compassion. She spoke kindly and calmly, and she felt empathy for him in a way not everyone is able to. She helped him feel safe and comfortable. This patient stayed in our unit for months and over time, learned to walk, speak and eat again.
I remember Alphonsa near tears one day, frustrated with being unable to help him. And then I recall the night before he was discharged home when she laughed with him and offered Valentine's candy and told him how she would miss him. She built a relationship with him and demonstrated what nursing is truly about.