Millennials tend to get a bad rap nowadays especially in Nursing. Many veteran nurses see them as too task-oriented; more into computer documentation and socializing than patient interaction. While it's true that not everyone gets into nursing because they truly care about people and want to help them, the same cannot be said for Amanda. Her passion for caring for others shines through in everything she does. Amanda does not just see a diagnosis and a room number. She takes the time to truly get to know her patients and discern their needs, which are often more than just the treatment of their diagnosis. Her ability to connect with patients and their families in meaningful ways continues to inspire me, and others on a daily basis. Where some nurses see an alcoholic or a drug addict, she sees a patient who's feeling down and or lost their way and needs encouragement. Where some nurses see dementia patient who is making them angry and driving them crazy because of all the time they spend in the room, she sees a scared elderly man or woman who needs someone to spend some time holding their hand and reassuring them they are safe, and she always makes that time no matter what else is going on during her day. It doesn't matter if the patients are rude, obnoxious, or difficult. She treats them all with the same care and compassion. I have seen her make birthday cards for patients, sing songs with patients, color with patients, laugh with patients, cry with patients, hold hands while they are dying.
The COVID crisis has not affected her ability to continue to strive to connect with patients, it has allowed her to truly shine. One younger patient, in particular, was very scared because of her increased shortness of breath, needing to go on high flow, and being proned. Despite needing to stay in a negative airflow room, Amanda made sure she took the time to stay with her and explained everything to her, and reassure her. Once the patient was placed in the prone position Amanda sat on the floor to talk to her so the patient could always see her face and not just have a disembodied voice talking to her. The patient eventually got transferred to the ICU and then to Boston but fortunately has recovered. She later called the hospital to talk to Amanda to thank her and tell her she told her husband she would ever forget how this wonderful nurse literally sat on the floor so she could see her face and reassure her when she was so scared and short of breath.
I could go on and on and cite endless examples, but all would only show that her priority is always on her patients and their needs and not just documentation and socializing. I am proud of her and the nurse that she is becoming and think she is a wonderful representation of the next generation of nurses.