A nurse called Laurel into a patient's room to confirm a neuro status change on a 50-year-old woman admitted the previous day with a headache. The patient had lost her ability to speak and had profound right-sided weakness. Laurel immediately called the Rapid Response Team and a Stroke Alert. The patient's CT scan, normal the day before, now showed an intra-parenchymal brain hemorrhage with full ventricle and midline shift. The patient's husband and 4-year-old granddaughter, "D", followed as we transferred the patient to the ICU. While the nurses cared for the patient, Laurel focused her attention on the family, entertaining and distracting "D" while Grandpa tried to absorb the devastating turn of events. As they played games and continued their bonding experience, we discovered that the patient and her husband were actually raising "D" and her 8-year-old sibling.
An ambulance arrived to transport the patient for neurosurgical intervention. "D" was adamant that she wanted to see her "mommy-grandma". "D" was frightened and overwhelmed at all of the activity and connected herself to Laurel, hugging her face and shoulders with her legs tightly wrapped around her waist, holding on as if Laurel were her lifeline. While Laurel's heart was breaking for "D", she held it together long enough to comfort and assure her that everyone was going to take good care of her grandma. Laurel escorted the family to their car with "D" still wrapped around her like a monkey. Watching Laurel truly connect with that child, gain her trust, and calm her fears brought me to tears. Laurel displayed a wonderful connection with a scared little girl. Grandpa commented that Laurel should have 50 grandkids.
To see the extraordinary moment of trust and security during a traumatic event, I am reminded of the privilege that nurses have, being fully engaged in life changing moments. Laurel seized that moment and made me even more proud to be a nurse.