One of the most important skills of an ER nurse is finding the calm in the chaos. Even in the most challenging of situations, it's important to stay calm so you can effectively and safely care for your patients but also build trust with patients and their families. Brandon Wood did just that for my family.
At about 1 am my cousins were in an Uber and were struck at high speed by a drunk driver. They appeared stable on scene, but their ER work-ups revealed life-threatening injuries. Brandon was the primary nurse for S who had the most significant injuries. When I arrived at the ER I was a nervous mess because I knew a cardiothoracic surgeon had been called.
As soon as I walked into the trauma room Brandon walked over to me and listed off all of S's injuries to me; a grade 3 aortic tear, an 8cm liver laceration, and a broken femur. I fought back tears but at that moment, Brandon built so much confidence. He had control of the room, he was clearly communicating and was keenly aware of any changes in S's vital signs or pain.
In my almost 11 years in the ER, I don't know that I've ever seen a nurse maintain such strong composure in such a critical and scary situation. Brandon not only took excellent care of S he also took care of the family during one of our scariest moments. My family and I will never forget that night and will never forget the care Brandon provided. Not only am I proud to work alongside Brandon but to have him take care of one of the people I love most is something I will never forget.