A nurse is a way of being, not just a job. This is seen in the manner in which nurses go about their time at work doing extraordinary things, which is often understated with the notation "I was just doing my job". But being a nurse does not stop as we go about our lives separate from the workplace. Nurses carry their compassion, their skill, and their dedication to helping others into the world with them every day. Kimiko McColluch is a shining example of how this way of being in relationship with others, this being a nurse and providing compassionate care permeates all environments. One night Kimiko was presented with the opportunity to provide expert compassionate nursing care to persons out in the community and she did so without hesitation. So impactful was this event to those that bore witness that a member of the community wrote a letter to recognize Kimiko. I knew she would not say anything and I wanted to make sure she was recognized in some way. Kimiko is also very humble. I will paste below the content of the letter as his words are so much more eloquent than anything I could write:
"We would like to thank Kimiko McColluch for her meritorious actions at our Crab Feed fundraiser. A lifelong member of our Order sat down just before the event started with his drink and collapsed. A friend ran to my business to find my wife, another UC Davis nurse; but instead found Kimiko. Kimiko administered CPR while this gentleman's family watched for almost a half an hour; all the while with grace and professionalism. Ultimately, first responders arrived and took over. While this gentleman did not eventually make it, his family can rest knowing that Kimiko; with all her knowledge and professionalism, did her due diligence to uphold the ideals that Hippocrates first wrote down 2500 years ago: Into whatsoever houses I enter, I will do so to help the sick: - Hippocrates."
In this simple act of answering the call to help another, bringing with her skill, knowledge, and compassion, Kimiko demonstrates excellence in nursing. The final outcome is not always as we would have it be but, as noted in this beautiful letter, to have a nurse there at this time providing excellent care does provide some level of peace for the family in this transition and that is an extraordinary gift. Kimiko embodies excellence in nursing.