The last 3 days everyone on the 6th floor has been listening to a sweet, confused patient call out. His speech is a little garbled and he's kind of hard to understand. The nurses and techs are keeping him safe, warm, and dry. They have also been taking turns keeping him company. When he calls out...he says "come on guys...come see me". And when the nurses go in there he is sweet to them thanking them and being playful with his interaction.
Today on my way back from a meeting I heard Good '01 country music blaring into the hall and I thought "what the heck?" and I hoped that wasn't disturbing any other patients. I followed the source of the music into that patient's room and found the nurse Sarah Winter at his bedside feeding him. He looked to be comfortable and soothed and happily enjoying the music. I asked her, what kind of "party was going on here?" She let me know..."he likes George Jones, and he likes it when I've got it on...so I put it on whenever I'm feeding him!" My eyes welled up with tears, and my heart filled up with pride as I watched this young nurse (she's been nursing around 1 ½ years) take care of her patients' needs as well as make a personal connection with compassion and kindness.
It really is amazing when you put away all the technology, gadgets, devices and just concentrate on customer service.... Sarah does just that! Her mom works in the E.D as an RN and Sarah has literally grown up here. Now she serves the very population from "whence she came"...And she's making us all very proud! In my opinion she exemplifies great nursing!