Recently, when the hospital was at max capacity, and the ED was holding 10+ patients waiting for beds, Kendall was one of the nurses who floated to the ED to provide support for the nurses. Floating to a unit where you do not know the flow, the staff, or the location of supplies can be extremely overwhelming for a nurse. Days when Kendall floats to the ED to assist staff in patient assignments, the flow of patient care is easier, and patients get the care they need.

This day I worked with Kendall in the ED, she took it upon herself to complete the Admission Histories of all the patients being held, something that would not have been done until the patients got to the inpatient units which was sometimes taking several days. I witnessed her call living care facilities and family members of patients who could not answer for themselves, just so she would have the most accurate information while also providing updates to family members about the condition and location of their loved ones. She also assisted in patient care, taking the time to order meal trays for all the patients. This may seem trivial but is often overlooked in situations like this where you are just trying to get tasks done. I also witnessed her update a family member about a really sick patient as staff were intervening in a near emergent situation and did not have time to discuss with family thoroughly what was happening and why that patient really needed an emergent central line so we could treat her blood pressure of 70/40s. As we were leaving, I had gone into a room to fix an IV pumping that was alarming. This patient had special needs and lived in a care facility. He appeared to be sleeping but woke up when he heard me in his room. He asked me if it was supper time yet. By this time, it was already 1930, long after our shift had ended. I approached Kendall and asked if he had a supper tray. He was one of the patients she had called the family of to complete his admission history, so she knew what he liked and had ordered him the requested food that his family suggested since he had communication barriers. This patient required total feeding because he could not control and move his arms and legs due to contractures. Kendall could not end her shift without knowing this patient had been fed. I warmed up his tray as Kendall got him ready to eat. She could have rushed through it and just fed him to be finished, but she took her time and let him choose what he wanted to eat and made sure his coffee (which was extremely important to him per the conversation with his sister earlier) was not cold but also not so hot that it would burn him. He ate 100% of his meal and, of course, drank all his coffee. He looked at Kendall and said he needed to urinate. Before we could get the urinal in place, he had voided and soiled the linens that had just been changed right before shift change. It was 2000 at this point. The ED was still short staffed, and she knew if she left now, the patient would be in soiled sheets for a while. So, she stayed and changed his sheets and repositioned him so he wouldn't get pressure injuries due to his contractures. When we were finished, and the patient was resting comfortably, she finally went home to her son, whom she also cares for.

Working with her just really inspired me that day. It is so easy to forget the small things that make a big difference to patients when nurses can become burned out after years of practice or in stressful situations, such as floating to other departments. This patient was eventually admitted to MPS, and Kendall went in to check on him one morning. Despite his disability, he remembered her and asked her where his sister was because the night she cared for him, she had told him she had called his sister to tell her he was in the hospital. After all these years of practice, Kendall still takes the time to provide meaningful and holistic care to patients. Not only is she an excellent patient care nurse but she is also an excellent coworker. She is often behind the scenes putting out fires. She is my go-to person for anything Randolph Health related. And I am positive I am not the only one who feels this way! She is a true team player who values quality patient care and strong team dynamics. She is an excellent nurse and leader, and it is a privilege to work with her and learn from her. Kendall also serves as our DAISY coordinator