Tiffany Wells
November 2015
Tiffany
Wells
,
RN
10 East Rhodes
Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University
Columbus
,
OH
United States
I was fresh out of my orientation, and was assigned to a patient who was admitted for generalized weakness. Several studies and tests were done for the patient to figure out what was going on. Unfortunately, the patient was newly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. And let's just say I hadn't figured out that "empathy" thing quite yet, being a newly graduated nurse. The patient was depressed, upset, and full of questions. I tried my best to answer those questions, but I was no expert. As the night settled, I told Tiffany about my patient's situation. Tiffany had her own heavy assignment of five sick patients who required all of her attention and were keeping her busy through the night. Regardless, she was very interested in what I had to say.
An hour or so later, I was rounding on my patients and found Tiffany sitting at the bedside of my distressed patient. I stood in the door way out of sight and listened in on their conversation. Questions were answered, feelings were discussed, and hope was instilled into my patient. Tiffany took time out of her busy night to comfort a patient who was not hers to comfort. I spoke to my patient later that morning about her discussion with Tiffany, and it was like I had an entirely different patient. She was smiling, happy, and full of optimism. I went in the patient's room to say goodbye and let her know that I would be back that evening. The patient's husband was now at the bedside, and the patient was off the unit. The husband stated that she called him last night, and told him all about her discussion with Tiffany. The husband shook my hand, and gave the most heart-felt thank you I have ever received.
Tiffany reminded me that evening what it means to be a nurse. So often we forget that our patient is more than just medication passes and every four hour neuro checks. They are mothers, sisters, spouses. They are human, and they deserve our empathy and love.
Tiffany is not only caring and compassionate for her patients, but for her coworkers as well. She was my preceptor for the majority of my orientation, and everything I know I owe to her. She encouraged all of us to be the best nurses we can be, and will never let us forget that our number one job is to advocate for our patients.
An hour or so later, I was rounding on my patients and found Tiffany sitting at the bedside of my distressed patient. I stood in the door way out of sight and listened in on their conversation. Questions were answered, feelings were discussed, and hope was instilled into my patient. Tiffany took time out of her busy night to comfort a patient who was not hers to comfort. I spoke to my patient later that morning about her discussion with Tiffany, and it was like I had an entirely different patient. She was smiling, happy, and full of optimism. I went in the patient's room to say goodbye and let her know that I would be back that evening. The patient's husband was now at the bedside, and the patient was off the unit. The husband stated that she called him last night, and told him all about her discussion with Tiffany. The husband shook my hand, and gave the most heart-felt thank you I have ever received.
Tiffany reminded me that evening what it means to be a nurse. So often we forget that our patient is more than just medication passes and every four hour neuro checks. They are mothers, sisters, spouses. They are human, and they deserve our empathy and love.
Tiffany is not only caring and compassionate for her patients, but for her coworkers as well. She was my preceptor for the majority of my orientation, and everything I know I owe to her. She encouraged all of us to be the best nurses we can be, and will never let us forget that our number one job is to advocate for our patients.