I floated to 6 Henson and assisted Jess with an 18-year-old patient. This patient had voiced to Jess that her family struggled financially and that her mother had six kids to buy Christmas gifts for. The patient had been working extra in order to help financially support her mother.
In the afternoon, the patient voiced to Jess that her mother and grandmother had been Christmas gift shopping and that while in a store, all of their Christmas gifts had been stolen out of their vehicle. The patient was upset and was eager to get discharged so she could get back to work and help get money to repurchase gifts for her siblings. Jess immediately stepped in and reached out to social work and the Child Life department because she so strongly wanted to help the patient and her family have a good Christmas, without worrying about the financial burden.
Jess worked with Child Life to find out the siblings' ages, what the patient's mother liked, and what the patient herself liked. Child Life delivered beautifully wrapped gifts for everyone in the family - including the patient, her mother, and her siblings. The patient was extremely grateful.
Jess embodies the ideal Children's Mercy nurse. She demonstrated empathy, kindness, advocacy, and hard work. She was not only taking care of the patient medically but helping the patient and her family personally. Jess went above and beyond like I have never seen. She ensured that the family was worry-free for Christmas. Jess showed me the type of nurse that I want to be, and I was extremely grateful to get to work with such a caring and giving person.