As a nurse in a new position as a Clinical Manager, Susan Monismith has been a mentor and someone that I have looked up to. She shows compassion towards patients and leads by example. I have always known that Susan was a special person, but this past weekend she made a difference in a patient's life and it is something that I will never forget.
We have had a younger patient on our unit who has had multiple admissions due to her cancer diagnosis with a poor prognosis. This patient has 5 children, and her husband had been killed within the last few years in an automobile accident. When Susan had gone into round on this patient, the patient got to talking to her and told Susan that one day she wished that she was healthy enough or even just felt good enough to go and get fake eyelashes.
After Susan had heard this, she took it upon herself to get in contact with a lady that she knows personally, that does eyelashes for individuals and had it set up for her to come into the patient's room while she was in the hospital and give her fake eyelashes. This was to be a surprise for the patient.
So, the next day, the individual came into the patient's room, and not only gave her fake eyelashes but also did her makeup and gave her a complete makeover, free of charge. The patient cried because she was so thankful for this opportunity. When I talked to the patient later that evening, you could tell that her spirits were much higher, and she was so excited and proud of the way she looked.
Susan took it upon herself to go above and beyond and bring happiness to this patient. It showed true compassion and just gives me another reason to continue to look up to Susan as a mentor. I am so honored to get to work with such an amazing and caring person like her.