Our 16-year-old son, B, recently had unplanned neurosurgery. He was irritated, in pain, and discreetly nervous about his whole situation, for he had been a healthy A-student and athlete. During the COVID pandemic, only one parent can stay with their child, which was quite challenging but fortunately B has parents in the healthcare profession; thus, we were confident about understanding and explaining the healthcare lingo to our son and from medical staff. Sometimes a child prefers instructions other than their parent and Nurse Kimberly Mercer fit the bill as his resource and guide, for she was not only clear and caring in the way she speaks to B but also us nervous parents. Though she knew we were in the healthcare field, we appreciated that she explained our son's Care Plan in layman's terms because no matter how much education one receives, no one's mind is ever psychological or emotionally prepared to deal with their ill child alone. Simple and thorough descriptions with a soothing tone of voice are appreciated always.
Kimberly created a welcoming environment where there was no judgment but only patience and kindness. She introduced herself clearly with a friendly tone of voice, knocked at the door before entering the room, explained every medication or procedure she needed to do on B, offered privacy, and went into step by step detail of what the physician orders were for B, especially the lengthy discharge instructions. Furthermore, she always made certain to encourage inquiries from us. Sometimes just simple gestures like retrieving a blanket or lowering the VS monitor sounds to keep us comfortable and calm in the hospital meant more than words can say.
As a nurse instructor for high school healthcare students, I emphasize that being smart is apparently crucial but to truly succeed in this field you must exemplify my four essential C's: Care, Communication, Common Sense, and Commitment, for the patient is a priority and the family can sense it. Undoubtedly, Kimberly certainly modeled all four. Nursing needs more Kimberly Mercers around! Much luck to her overall success in her life.