Nahleh Abukalbeen, BSN RN

I was struggling to educate one of the advanced heart failure patients who was on hemodialysis and needed to be put on a severe fluid restriction. She was readmitted to the hospital after gaining 20 pounds in one week despite treatments. She was having difficulty restricting herself to 32 ounces of fluid a day. My teaching didn't have any impact and wasn't inspiring. Nahleh was quietly listening to our conversation and at this point, interjected, "it's like when we fast and we are thirsty- we just wet our mouths, but we don't drink." The patient's eye lit up, she sat straight and took on a new resolve: She gave up all of the extra fluids at her bedside. The next day when I saw her, she repeated back the message to me. Nahleh's ability to educate this patient in a culturally sensitive way that was caring and personal, and actionable, will lead to a better outcome for the patient, and allow her to adhere to her fluid restriction. Naheleh always strives to provide exemplary care for her patients. I hope she is recognized for her compassion.