Have you ever met a person who brought light to your path when all you saw was darkness? Have you ever been brought peace by someone who is basically a stranger? Have you ever experienced or been served by someone who viewed their job not as a career but as a vocation? I have at the Aspen Unit, thanks to my nurse, Desiree. Her passion for dealing with mental illness was beautiful to see and a gift in my life. She was very instrumental in my healing and I will forever be grateful for her helping me during the hardest time of my life.
*****
Desiree is a very caring and loving nurse. Always asked if she could help in any way. She also cared about my emotional and physical needs- very caring and loving.
*****
Desiree epitomizes what a good nurse should be. She is the embodiment of empathy, kindness, and competence. I had an issue early in my stay in which I became extremely agitated and angry. I took my negativity out on her. I was unkind, but rather than holding a grudge or treating me coldly, she gave me nothing but kindness. The day after my outburst I did offer an apology, which Desiree immediately accepted, saying: "we all have bad days." We ended up talking for a while; she offered support and comfort when I needed it most.
*****
Desiree is a lovely person and totally deserves to be acknowledged for that! She made my stay bearable by offering me exactly what I needed- empathy and kindness, while never talking down to me or making me feel less than a valued human being.