When a child presented to the Pediatric unit for acute management of multiple new and devastating diagnoses as a direct result of a newly divulged history of sustained abuse, Rachel excelled in the nursing care of this vulnerable patient. Rachel went above and beyond providing medical care and patient education information. Rachel understood that this patient was in a fragile emotional state and skillfully provided age-appropriate information in small tidbits, including how the child would have to modify personal hygiene methods moving forward. Rachel stated to the patient, "This is your room", "This is your chair." "They do not belong to your family."
She clearly and compassionately communicated to the child that she was Rachel's priority; her physical, mental and emotional well-being were Rachel's only concerns.
In approaching this heart-breaking patient case, Rachel continued to educate the vulnerable child by role-modeling a healthy and appropriate adult-child relationship. When it came time for discharge, Rachel gave the child a guardian angel figurine, a physical embodiment of Rachel's love, care and brightest hopes for this child. Rachel herself may not be aware of the significance of the impact she had on this child. When the child was asked by other staff members what she wanted to be when she grows up, the child replied with a smile, "I want to be a nurse."