We recently cared for a young woman with Autism. She was diagnosed with C Diff and was very ill. The patient had been in the hospital for quite a few days, and her mother and father had been by her side 24/7. In the evening, Janelle was supervising, and the patient’s mother approached Janelle very upset. The mother was relaying that she had never felt so alone and that nursing wasn’t able to be there for her daughter as much as she needed. The mother was in tears and yelling at the primary nurse. At that moment, Janelle said she paused and instead of becoming defensive she thought to herself, “this woman isn’t angry, she’s exhausted.”

Janelle immediately went to work and arranged for the patient to have a safety attendant who would be able to provide constant support to the patient and family. Janelle didn't stop there; she also secured an empty room for the patient's parents so that they could take turns resting comfortably. These actions resulted in a complete change in their hospital experience. 

I was assigned to be a relief safety attendant for this family the following day, and they were so thankful for the care they were receiving. I experienced firsthand how intensely the patient's illness was affecting her behavior and how physically demanding it was to protect her from falling and potentially resulting in harm. While I sat with this family, the mother gave me glowing reviews of the staff and kept thanking me for all the help we were able to provide. She continued to share that she had another daughter with autism who had recently passed away under similar circumstances and how this hospitalization was very triggering for her. 

I am so grateful that Janelle went the extra mile and was so compassionate with this family. In this moment, she demonstrated empathy, compassion, professionalism, and commitment to excellence in nursing.