Sometimes situations occur in which a nurse has an opportunity to make a huge impact in the lives of families. On June 3, 2010 a patient put on her call light requesting to speak to her nurse. This patient was being treated for chronic pancreatitis and had an anxiety disorder. When her nurse arrived at her bedside her voice was shaking and she started telling her how she was worried about her father who was currently visiting at her bedside. She stated that yesterday he was lying on the floor hardly breathing having an anxiety attack. She explained that he has done this in the past and they called 911. Her nurse watched as her father sat motionless, breath holding, and then taking intermittent deep breaths while holding his chest with his left hand. Quickly the nurse tried to figure out what he does to help himself in this situation. He shook his head to say he didn’t know and denied taking any medication for his anxiety. He was refusing to be seen in the emergency room. Now her patient was escalating with her anxiety, crying, and asking for help. It was then that her nurse called Diane Moskal (her ANM) for assistance.

Diane came immediately and spoke with the father and patient with compassion and thoughtful words. He trusted her and agreed to be seen in the EC. She personally escorted him to the EC by wheelchair speaking with him gently and caring. Diane planned to leave work just prior to receiving the telephone call. After making sure the father was being cared for in the EC, Diane returned to the patient’s bedside to let her know what was going on. Diane explained to the patient and her nurse that she wanted to make sure that the father was okay and would give him her phone to speak to her if necessary. The patient was surprised and stated that she didn’t have to do that and Diane replied “yes I do, and I will”. The patient’s face changed, smiled and looked more relaxed. She made a special connection with Diane. Diane returned again allowing the patient to vent her feelings and concerns about her social history. The patient opened her heart to Diane, speaking honestly and freely. Her father ended up getting admitted to the hospital. The patient commented how wonderful Diane was and that she never met such an amazing nurse like her before. Diane was a Beaumont Star and will be remembered by this family always.