It was a dark and stormy night, the patients were sick, grumpy, and tired of laying on ER gurneys. Ok so it wasn't that bad, but it was pretty bad. For two days straight the ED had 16-19 admitted patients that were boarding in the ER. Everyone including the doctors, nurses, techs, and especially the patients were tired and frustrated. The house supervisor called to tell us there was a med/surg nurse coming in to help us with the boarded patients. The mood in the ED went from doom and gloom to a glimmer of hope.

Then she walked in... Rachel walked in. She walked in with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step. She walked in knowing she was going to inherit a full load of patients in an area she was not familiar with and with nurses she has never worked with. She did not know where any supplies were, she did not know me or anyone else in the ED. She smiled anyway. She happily took 6 patients that had been waiting for up to 36 hours for admission. She was happy, energetic, and downright freaking awesome! She would admit a patient to the floor and take another one that had been waiting in its place. She did this over and over, the smile never leaving her face. That smile was infectious. It was palpable. It made others around her happier because you could feel her positivity.

Rachel did this for 12 hours never losing a step. The next day she returned and did it all over again. The same thing, admit then take, admit then take. All while smiling and working in a place she had never worked in before. She came to a place most nurses don't want to float to because we are always busy and take care of ICU level, PCU level as well as PEDS, Med/Surg, Rehab, and OB patients, it doesn't matter, we don't say no. She seriously restored my faith in nursing. She made me realize that a positive attitude can help those around you. She certainly helped me. Thank you, Rachel!