As I began my 12-hour shift that early Thursday morning, I had no idea the turn of events that would hold for me. Things were fairly routine until I started to experience pain on my right side. The pain quickly grew in intensity until I had to emergently leave my position as the charge nurse on 3 West and head for help in the ED. I was escorted to a room and in walked Scott. I have known this nurse only in passing for years. He has been in the ED for quite a few years. We have exchanged reports on patients occasionally in the past.

What I didn’t know was how Scott treats his patients when they are in his care. I was in excruciating pain with a kidney stone; Scott was my knight in shining armor. I can attest that nurses do make the worst patients. I removed my BP cull and sat probe when the machine kept beeping and annoying me. I shimmied down the stretcher because the side rails were up and I wanted to stand to see if repositioning would eliminate my pain. It is amazing how pain can make you feel so focused. Scott just waltzed in with a sense of authority. He was experienced, well-skilled and that made me feel immediately better. I felt safe in his hands. When you are sick, that is such an amazing thing.

There was more to it than the fact I knew he was an experienced nurse. He did things that were just nice. He offered to shut off the lights. He covered my feet when I was rolled through the hall to Cat Scan. He checked on me often and asked if I was still in pain. He explained every step of the way what he was doing and what the team was doing. People may balk at the ED but that for sure was not my experience. Every person I met was exceptional! Life throws us all curveballs in life and when mine came I am so thankful to have had such a wonderful, experienced professional in my corner that day. To me, it made a huge difference and I will be forever grateful. Scott was pivotal in my great experience in the ED. He is a gift in my opinion and if ever I am feeling that bad again I pray he is my nurse!