Nerissa Lazo was the primary nurse for a patient who was admitted to 7 east. This patient was a young single mother who was living in a hotel as she had been kicked out of her apartment she was living in with her baby's father. This was a very unhealthy relationship and she had revealed to Nerissa that her injuries actually had occurred when she along with her baby, had tried to exit the car her ex-boyfriend was driving when he suddenly took off, dragging her a short distance down the road. She told Nerissa that she looked back and the baby's car seat had toppled over.
Nerissa took extra time to give her emotional support and encouragement throughout her shift. Towards the end of the shift, the baby's father brought her kids to the patient's room and left. There was a possibility that he may have even been intoxicated; the patient was distraught as she had no one to reach out to. The baby had no more diapers and no more formula and was crying. Nerissa finished her shift, went to pick up her own children then went and bought a large can of formula and diapers. She brought this back to the unit and did not want anyone to tell her who it was from as she did not want to "embarrass" the mother.
The next day when I rounded on the patient, she was so moved by the kindness that Nerissa showed her and was very emotional stating, "No one has ever done anything that nice for me ever!" and that she just knew it had to have been Nerissa. When I asked Nerissa about this, she just stated it was the right thing to do. This is what kindness and compassion are about!
Nerissa is always going above and beyond with patients, families, and her fellow team members. She comes to work with a smile on her face and treats everyone with dignity and respect regardless of who they are or how difficult they may be. She is most deserving for this recognition.