As a student nurse, we are often told “You get out of clinical what you put into it”. I would argue that clinical days can heavily depend on the nurse precepting you. I’ve had some nurses treat students as assistants, this clinical day consists of the nurse asking the student to retrieve materials and the student doing so. Other nurses avoid their students and treat them like a burden. I’ve had one nurse tell me to have a seat at the nurse’s station and go to her office for the remaining shift. Koko is the exception.

It was my first day in the ER at this facility as a student and the first time a nurse volunteered to be my preceptor. Koko taught me a clever pneumonic to remember medication interactions and reviewed equipment. However, her regard for holistic care motivated me to nominate her. She was administering an IV, a routine procedure in the ER for her patient who was afraid of needles. She explained the procedure to the patient and then asked the patient what their favorite color was, it was green. Koko said, “Close your eyes and imagine a big heart-shaped birthday cake, light green frosting, and dark green lining with a big candle. When I count to three, I want you to blow out the candle”. She inserted the IV and the patient was relieved. Although IVs are a routine thing for her, she took the patient’s emotional state into account and cared for them. Little moments like these are valuable to patient care. It was especially unique to see this kind of care in the ER. After all her years as a nurse, she isn’t numb to the patient experience. This happened in April, and I still think about it. Koko’s eagerness to help a student nurse and compassion when dealing with patients makes her extraordinary and exceptional. To properly take care of a patient is a skill, but to effectively encourage a future nurse is truly valuable.