My father was admitted to the ER last week as he is battling stage 4 lung cancer along with brain cancer. This has been a first in our family; my father has always been a strong, resilient, and independent man. We knew a time would come for us to take care of our parents, but this disease hit us all hard and harsh.
The amount of attention and activities my father is now needing has been a shift for us. His daily activities now need assistance and that has been an adjustment for him and us. Upon arrival at the ER, the care provided was as expected. Doctors answered our questions and the nurses did their jobs. We then were moved to the SICU area on Thursday morning and my father was stabilized. His first day was difficult and uncertain as we waited for his oncologist to give us direction for the next steps.
By Friday, the transfer of nurses occurred, and my father was assigned Debbie. She came into the room, introduced herself (very humbling) and started her day. Her attention to detail and her calmness when dealing with my father was inspiring. She never showed a sign of annoyance or discontent with our many questions (and a few requests for coffee) and needs that my father required. Even when helping him go to the bathroom she kept a cool, calm, collected, and pleasant smile to her. You know! This type of behavior goes a long way; not only is the patient vulnerable and anxious but also the family. Her treatment made us feel at peace. In summary, Debbie displays patience, service, humbleness, and kindness when treating patients.
P: Passion/Compassion for Nursing = Yes, most definitely
E: Empathy in the situation = At all times
T: Trust and Teamwork = Absolutely
A: Admirable attributes possessed = Throughout our interaction
L: Love for the patient and nursing profession = She came in with a smile and left with a smile
S: Selflessness = She never showed a sign of annoyance