April 2022
Samantha
Shields
,
BSN, RN
6A
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States
They then left work after a busy 12-hour shift, went to Target to fulfill his list, and came back to the hospital to deliver the items to him after 9 pm.
After an extremely busy shift, I ran into her and her student nurse coming into the hospital as I was leaving. I was very confused by this as I had just worked 12 hours with them, and I had thought they had gone home a long time ago. When I asked them what they were up to, she told me that they had made a “Target run” for their patient. This patient was admitted and has many nasal sprays and rinses due to his constant need for oxygen and the associated discomfort he feels. He utilizes a sinus rinse multiple times per day which provides him with great symptom relief, however, he had run out of the sodium chloride packets that accompany the sinus rinse and the hospital pharmacy was out of them as well. They found additional packets for purchase at the local Target which they offered to pick up for him as his mother was unable to go on his behalf due to a lack of transportation and her own medical concerns. He spent the entire day on the Target app curating an order with all his favorite things. They then left work after a busy 12-hour shift, went to Target to fulfill his list, and came back to the hospital to deliver the items to him after 9 pm. When I saw them coming back into the hospital, they were both beaming and giggling as they carried multiple bags of items from Target. The joy they were exuding as they carried out this task for the patient was palpable. She is an absolutely phenomenal nurse and going above and beyond for her patients is her norm. This story is one of the countless stories that demonstrate her willingness to move mountains to put a smile on her patient’s faces, and the way she competently, selflessly, and compassionately cares for her patients is awe-inspiring.