My father was brought by ambulance and admitted to ICU. One night, Dad was becoming agitated and confused. I knew he was in for a rough night so I asked his nurse, Roseann, if I could stay with him. She assured me that it wasn't necessary as she would keep constant watch over him but did say I could stay if it made me feel better. I did stay and Dad did have a rough night. I kept him calm as best I could. I watched Roseann's dedication, quick decision-making, energy and compassion in caring for my Dad. She could tell that he was deteriorating but she was careful not to alarm me. She knew just when to bring in the doctor on call and a decision was made to re-intubate Dad that night.
Roseann spent the rest of her shift calculating Dad's needs and setting up his IVs while attending to her other patients. What touched me most was her compassion towards me. She knew I had been up for over 24 hours and had done my best to keep Dad calm and in his bed. She had not had time for a break herself, but she was concerned with getting me coffee and offering me food. My family is grateful for her dedication and compassion.