This week, while rounding, I found Erin in her patient's room sitting next to him while he was resting in his recliner, reading a book out loud to him.
She had learned from getting to know her patient that he was a voracious reader. However, due to some recent neurological issues, he had been unable to read. She asked his family to bring in the last book he was reading and she has spent time every day this week reading aloud to him while he recovers from cardiac surgery.
Even in the most critical and technical of environments, a great nurse remembers the basics of compassion by making personal connections with her patients.