Candy Davis, BSN, RN

My dear friend was transported to the St Vincent ER in Billings, MT. Unfortunately, my friend didn't survive the event that caused him to be treated, and he passed before his wife and family could make it to the hospital. When we finally did arrive, we were escorted promptly to the family room to wait for further instruction.

Candy was the second staff member to greet us in the room. I was struck by her quiet calm. She took all of the pain and emotion in that room in stride, gently guiding all of us to the correct path to begin making the final decisions for my friend.

What struck me the most was her choice of words upon introducing herself. She helped maintain his dignity in the most beautiful way. She said, "I am his nurse." She specifically used the word AM. Not WAS. His body was still in her care, and until her job was done, he was still a patient that deserved to be seen, rather than dismissed as a corpse.

She was so professional, yet also gentle and empathetic, in the way she prepared us to be able to say our last good-byes, making sure that we understood he would not appear "normal" to us anymore because of the extent of his injuries.

Candy could have easily been just professional, cool without being cruel. She chose not to. She chose to maintain her professionalism while also maintaining her own humanity in the situation. Her actions helped to protect the dignity of my friend and his family.

Thank you will never be enough.