My 90-year-old father was admitted to MMC in Las Cruces. He wasn't breathing well and had a croupy cough. Pulmonary infection was treated. Upon his stay he had many great nurses and techs, but on stood out.
Zack took a second longer to talk to Dad. He asked about his health and encouraged Dad to talk. He was competent and caring. I could see that he was a bit different; more personal. Maybe he and Dad just connected, but it was obvious. During his stay, my dad's wife fell at a memory care facility and broke a hip. Dad was devastated because she has stage 5 Alzheimer's. He knew she would be scared, and he wanted to go to her. Her family did not want Dad to see her and cause more confusion.
Zack could see that Dad was stressed. In talking to Dad, my father put blame on himself because he left her and went to Memorial Medical Center. He then had Home Instead strangers take care of her until I could get there. Then he put her in the memory care facility where she probably felt abandoned and alone. As Dad spoke his truth, Zack got down on his knees and listened.
Then Zack showed where his true strength and gift of nursing is. He asked Dad questions. Did Dad intentionally get sick and go to the hospital? No. Did his wife need the caregivers at home until his daughter could get there? Yes. Was memory care already a plan? Yes. Did Dad cause her to fall? No. Was she getting the help she needed for her Alzheimer's? Yes. So...basically Zack took the time to have Dad talk back all the events, so the guilt could recede.
Zack, from the bottom of my heart, Dad's heart, and all the rest of our family, THANK YOU for caring, which is normal, but you went above and beyond. You made Dad see the light, lessen the guilt, and start to understand his need to get stronger.