Ann is a long time employee with a sense of humor, a keen insight clinically, and a tender heart. She helps us a bunch with difficult patients when she floats. One day, a very challenging patient was giving us struggles. A female, blind, older, very harsh, and refusing many cares, she just kept pushing people away. Ann, however, saw her as a person instead of just a patient and from the first moment, built a relationship and transformed this woman and the atmosphere in the room. The woman was scared and used to pushing people away because of a tough life. She was discharging and scared to go. Her husband was present and knew her behavior as well. Ann tended to every need in the professional matter of fact way. Getting her fully bathed and beautiful with her assessment, and sharing what she was doing and why. Ann got in and was not intimidated by her patient's rough ways. She got in and found her tender spots and touched her heart. I had been in the two days prior as charge to assess and teach others how to work with the patient and Ann showed me. The patient recognized my voice as I was in to help reposition with Ann and touch base with patient.
The patient said to me in a whisper, "that nurse is a real nurse, she cares."
I held her hand and whispered back, "I know, with her whole heart." The patient smiled and we worked to get everything right for transfer even with EMTs. I asked Ann later what she did to get her to open up. Ann said the first thing she did was to give her a hug because it is just what some people need. Thank you, Ann!