Anna-Marie is a new nurse orienting on our unit and had cared for a young client the day prior to my shift, as well as the current day. She recognized the patient was struggling with his new reality and wanted to make him more comfortable in the helmet he would need post-craniectomy for the next few months, while encroaching on his high school graduation.

Before the shift, Anna-Marie made a stop at Walmart for supplies to help decorate his safety helmet and make it a memorable piece to display at his grad party in the future. After I assisted the patient with removing the rest of his remaining hair as requested, Anna-Marie sat with the patient and decorated the helmet, sharing giggles, jokes, and aspirations for the future.

She made him feel loved, seen, and heard, and shared an emotional connection with him that helped him accept his current needs and encouraged him for the future. Anna-Marie’s kindness and dedication to her patients are what will continue to make her a strong, caring nurse.