I had been in the emergency department for over 10 hours, my 105 pound self I have been given numerous pain medications for my severe back pain since 130pm and I was finally admitted at about midnight. At this point I have been groggy, dizzy and disoriented when I arrived in my room on the Neurology Tele Unit. Stephanie, my nurse, came to meet me and introduced herself. She made sure I was safe transferring from the cart to the bed because I kept saying the room was spinning and I was scared. She reassured me that she would stay with me, get me acquainted with my surroundings, ask me questions, and try to keep me focused. This is past midnight now, and I am totally experiencing the zombie zone from pain meds, but I am still oriented.  She confirmed with me which meds were given and inquired which ones helped me more than the others. She was very attentive and detailed to my needs to make sure I participated in my admission process; she didn’t leave my room even after all the admission questions were answered. She made sure that I was comfortable, safe, and as pain-free as possible. This was way past midnight. I’m sure she had other patients, tasks, routines, and doctors to attend, but this nurse knew I was having some difficulty adjusting with the very strong meds.  At some point she was not just the nurse anymore but a friend, a friend who cared, who connected with me because she listened to my heavy heart, and the pain I had been experiencing for a while; I explained about being a mom with young children in Chronic pain, taking medications, to work and still be able to provide for her family. And the tone of her soft voice, the time she gave me when she knelt down to look at me eye to eye, she held my hand, the moment that touched my heart was when she said, “You are still very young, there is hope, don’t give up.”  

I understand nurses have their responsibilities and jobs to do routinely, but this nurse Stephanie, as young as she is, she gave me hope, got me out of my zombie zone to help me realize that this is not the end of the road, her voice and her words had that power to help me shake it off.  I’ve been in pain even while taking pain meds.  There is a time when you just need someone to stop and not treat you like a patient but as a friend who can relate, empathize, and sympathize, who can give hope, who can give powerful words at the right time and at the right moment.  Stephanie’s perfect timing and empowering words were miracles that gave me hope that I can be a mom again, I can function and work, and that there is still hope.  She did not have to stay with me, but she did out of the graciousness of her heart. St Alexius Medical Center, you are truly blessed to have a nurse like Stephanie. 

Stephanie deserves the DAISY Award and more recognition because she went above and beyond, her work and care made me feel like I’m her family, not just a job, she did not just treat my back pain, she touched my soul, lifted my spirits, and with her taking her time to help and comfort exemplifies her care for others. I was in a dark place, but she brought back the light that I needed to keep going. I wish there were more Stephanies around;  then this world would be a better place to live.