A 19-year-old college sophomore was diagnosed with new onset Diabetes in the Emergency Room. The patient is a member of a national award-winning marching band at her university and she was leaving to drive back to school today for summer band camp. The patient was distraught with the new diagnosis and was adamant that she had to check into her school tonight or would miss her opportunity to compete in band camp. No diabetic educator was available in the hospital which would have resulted in the patient being admitted to the hospital. LTJG Hunter a staff/charge RN on MSU volunteered to complete one-on-one diabetic education with the ER patient, giving her the information to manage her disease outpatient until follow-up with endocrinology was achieved.
From a hospital staff's viewpoint, LTJG Hunter teaching was the difference between an admission and the patient going home; however, to this patient, LTJG Hunter's compassionate gesture allowed the patient to retain a sense of normalcy in this chaotic day, it allowed her to return to her school with her peers, and it gave the patient the autonomy to compete to retain her sought after position in the marching band. Thank you, LTJG Hunter, for your compassionate nursing care, teamwork, and leadership.