I was helping in the Emergency Department as Nursing Supervisor when Caroline took a phone call from a distraught husband of a patient seen the previous day in our Emergency Department. The caller was voicing concern and anxiety over how and when to give newly prescribed medications with previous medications to his wife. Caroline patiently spoke and confirmed with the ERP per recommended actions and spent a considerable amount of time with the caller. Caroline explained every medication including what each was for and how best to give. She educated the caller regarding keeping a written log of when he gave the medicines so he could watch when they were due again. The most comforting thing was Caroline reassured the caller, with patience and compassion and greatly reduced his anxiety. I appreciated the time Caroline took and the comforting patience she had.
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During leader rounding, I met a young, single mother of two with a great deal of personal and professional stressors. She had an aspiration to be an RN, but due to previous poor choices in life was having challenges getting things "cleared up." The patient also shared she was living back at home with her parents and that her mother was an alcoholic. This patient feared the future and was overwhelmed. The patient shared with me that her nurse, Caroline, was so very kind and compassionate and appreciated her. The patient remembered Caroline from when she was in the ED with similar concerns. The patient added, "it was comforting seeing her again."
After the patient was discharged, I spoke with Caroline to thank her for being so compassionate. At that point, I learned earlier in her shift she helped a man get placed in a shelter when she realized that "something didn't seem right" at discharge. Caroline felt that he was hesitant to share at first but revealed he had nowhere to go, and he was homeless. Caroline took time to call around, connect with a shelter in Lafayette, arrange transport, and even helped with background check needed before the man could be admitted to the shelter. This was clearly above and beyond and exemplifies the value of compassion and purpose. Carline is a modest and kind RN who made a significant impact on two different people both in very difficult times in their lives. We are so blessed to have her on our team at IU Health White Memorial.