It was Jaylaan's first night of orientation, and she was taking care of a young woman who was critically ill in MICU. The patient was critically ill, pregnant with a now stillborn infant, and unresponsive. The patient's 6-year-old son came to visit his mother with family that evening. In talking to the young boy, Jaylaan found out it was his birthday the next day. When she asked what he wanted for his birthday, the young boy said he wanted his mother to wake up. Jaylaan, who was moved by the situation, felt compelled to do something for this young boy. She approached Nicole Harris, our PM ANM, to see if there was a way we could get a cake or do something for this young boy.
Nicole and Jaylaan gathered the staff on the unit who all gave what they could to get something for this young boy. Every staff member at work contributed. From our unit stash, a birthday card was found and signed by all of the staff. Jaylaan took some of the money and went to Au Bon Pain and bought cookies and cupcakes for this young boy. The staff pulled together a goody bag with age-appropriate items from the delirium toolbox. They decorated the bag and placed the leftover money in the card. Then the entire staff went into the room and surprised this young boy. They sang "Happy Birthday," gave him the card with the money, the gift bag, and cookies and cupcakes to share with his family.
At the end of the night, Jaylaan said to Nicole that this is why she had become a nurse because only a nurse would be able to do something like that for someone else.