Nursing compassion is the most crucial aspect of our job. Involving that deep understanding and empathetic response to a patient and not judging how they got there. It goes beyond basic care and makes you dig deep to have that desire to do good and see good. I have the privilege to work with so many amazing nurses who have this gift each and every day. I have two nurses who most recently defined what true compassion without judgment looks like.

We have a patient who has been with us for a while now and will be with us a bit longer. He has fallen on difficult circumstances and is without basic amenities (clothes and personal items). As we can provide those to him through the hospital, our 2 amazing nurses, Cierra and C, noticed he was struggling with the inability to reach the outside world. He would often visit the computer lab to check his email, social media, and connect with family; however, it became a struggle to leave the unit due to limitations with his IV medications and MD visits.

Cierra and C took it upon themselves to purchase a tablet and earphones out of their own pockets to provide that connection to the outside world. They presented the tablet to him together, and if you could see the thankfulness in his eyes, you would know this is just what he needed. I am beyond proud of these nurses and want them to be celebrated for not only brightening his day but possibly changing his trajectory in life. Sometimes it takes one act of kindness when you have lost hope to give you the strength to continue to have faith in humanity. I hope we can celebrate these beautiful humans for their compassion in their profession; they are the true nightingales on 6 North.