Lately, with so many COVID-19 patients on our unit, and watching them battle illnesses, by themselves, has brought an emotional toll on the patients and the healthcare providers at the bedside, but that has not stopped Emily Garber from giving them the best care possible.

Recently, we have had several older patients with memory issues, scared and sick with COVID on the unit, and they have all been Emily's patients. One instance, in particular, had to do with a dementia patient in her 90s diagnosed with COVID. She was frightened, confused, and just wanted her family. In fact, she screamed out for them quite often. Little did she know, she'd be blessed with Emily Garber as her nurse.

Emily stayed at the patient's bedside for most of the day, constantly reassuring her that she was ok, holding her hand, and making her feel like she was her family. Caring for COVID patients in N-95s and full PPE is difficult. The donning and doffing of PPE can make a nurse tired, let alone staying at the bedside for hours at a time in full PPE, well, that can be exhausting.

But Emily didn't let the patient know that. In fact, nobody knew it. Emily sat at that patient's bedside as much as she could during her 12 hours in full PPE to make sure her patient felt loved and cared for. As a charge nurse on 8PCU, Emily often makes sure that COVID patients are able to video chat with their families during their shift so that their families can feel like they are with them, and in this situation, she did the same thing. This patient who was terminally ill with COVID got to see her family on video at the end of the day thanks to Emily's efforts.

Emily has been commended by MDs who have cared for her COVID patients, her fellow nurses, and the patient's families about just how much of a difference she's made for these particular patients during this pandemic. While it seems like everything in the world is changing with COVID, one thing has not: Emily's compassion and love for her patients during their most difficult times.