Early one morning I was called to 5 south to talk to this patient. When I arrived, I found an older gentleman walking around his room who seemed anxious. He was sorting through his belongings and talking about these being his only belongings in the world. He had picked a large amount of debris from them and placed it on the floor. He had long hair and a scruffy beard. I learned he was homeless and was very worried about his belongings being removed from his room. He was also scratching his head and complaining of being very itchy. He had a serious case of head lice and there was evidence of bugs in his belongings. I explained the need to remove his belongings and to treat his lice. He began to relax and agreed he wanted this done. Tammy was his primary nurse and this day was the very beginning of her shift. The patient was definitely "contrary" and did not make caring for him very easy. Tammy and I talked about the plan and she took over.
I checked back to make sure the belongings had been removed and did an inspection. Tammy was busy with her patient. She had spent hours with him shaving his hair and beard (with his permission), showering him, and treating him with medications. When I checked back he appeared comfortable and content. He stated he was grateful to no longer be itching. By taking time to perform the care that was necessary, although time-consuming, Tammy restored this man's comfort and dignity.
It has been my experience as an infection preventionist that many nurses approach lice and bed bugs with fear. It made me so proud to watch Tammy show compassion and provide the needed care professionally and without judgment. Her actions that day are just one example of her professional behavior. She advocates for her patients as well as performs hand hygiene per policy. She always has a very positive attitude each time our staff interacts with her.