I was almost done with my lunch and wondered why Xufei had not joined us. Then I found out she was changing dressings for the patient-Ms. Xu, who was terminally ill with advanced colon cancer. The dressings for her unhealing wounds needed to be changed every forty-minutes, four to five times during the day. Xufei always changed the dressings and linens as needed to keep Ms. Xu comfortable for three consecutive months! She never complained even a little bit! At that time, I believed Xufei should be enjoying her lunch and taking some rest, but she believes patients come first. Below is just another example.
That day, just a few minutes before lunch time, Xufei answered the unit phone from ER staff asking for help with one patient's venous access port. Although we suggested having lunch first, Xufei rushed to ER right away. Half an hour later, Xufei came back and told us that the patient, whom she once cared for in our unit, recognized her at once. She helped the ER nurse start the IV through the venous access port and taught staff there how to maintain it. She was so relieved that the patient could have the medicine as soon as possible. Looking at Xufei eating her cold lunch, I felt her pride and satisfaction that comes from helping patients and colleagues and I was touched by her selfless actions.
She is my role model as a good nurse!