I took a report for a patient who had recently had several ICU-level challenges and was currently requiring care on the higher end of the spectrum, even for an ICU nurse. While taking the report, I noticed her hair was braided beautifully; this is not normally how patients' hair who have been intubated several times looks.
To my surprise, Jessica said she had braided it and mentioned her intentions to "clean it up" when the procedure was over. The patient is currently nonverbal, but she nonverbally expressed gratitude and thanks for the gesture, and I am positive it is helping her mental health with her current admission. This was touching, in itself, but it was more so because I know that she was taking care of two ICU-level patients and still found the time to be so compassionate and caring.
Having worked briefly in the ICU several years ago, I have firsthand experience with their workloads, and I have always had the utmost respect. To think that a nurse assigned two moderate-heavy tasked ICU patients still had the time to do such a beautiful thing was very touching, and I am sure the family feels the same.
When I visited the patient today, I saw that her braids had been redone. Inspiring!