July 2021
Tunijia
Nowden
,
RN
Emergency Department
Valley Hospital Medical Center
Las Vegas
,
NV
United States
TJ took the time to listen to the patient, prayed with the patient, and found her the resources that she needed.
Tunijia Nowden came to me one afternoon asking for community resources for a patient who had found out they were pregnant recently and needed to know her options. TJ felt compelled to help as she had cared for this patient twice in three days. TJ had learned that the patient had other children at home, and this patient had a drug problem. TJ confirmed that the patient's children were safe and well cared for, but the extraordinary moment came when she not only overlooked the patient's issues with drugs but heard her plea for help with her current situation. TJ and I looked through all of our community resource guides but did not find anything that would be helpful. We did an online search and were able to put a suggestion of a clinic that could help her discuss her options. TJ took the time to listen to the patient, prayed with the patient, and found her the resources that she needed. In addition, TJ took the initiative to let our case manager know that this was information we needed better access to in hopes to have better options for other patients who may need this assistance in the future. It can be a challenge to find deep compassion when caring for a patient with drug addiction and not making great life decisions. TJ accepted that challenge and provided the compassion that this patient needed.