Upon coming onto the unit one morning, I noticed Shey kneeling down beside a bed with a sitter in the room. I entered into the room to see if I could be of assistance. We have a patient with some psychiatric disorders that cause her to present with bizarre behaviors. This patient decided she was going to curl up on the floor for an extended period of time, and could not be convinced, despite efforts from multiple staff members, to get back in the bed or chair. Shey was trying to comfort this patient. She was kneeled down on the floor beside her rubbing her back and placing a cool wash cloth on her face, all while speaking to her in her native language to try to comfort her.
Come to find out, Shey wasn't even the primary nurse for this patient, but was dedicating her time to this woman who was going through a very vulnerable time. Although we may never know the impact Shey's kind gestures had on this patient, I do know that it reminded me of the main reason I decided to become a nurse. As nurses, we see patients at their absolute worst and most vulnerable times in their lives, but by Shey showing true compassion and empathy for this patient, she is truly leading by example the absolute definition of how a nurse should really care for their patients in their moment of need - no matter how big or small that need seems in the big picture.