An OSU patient was admitted to the unit with a suspected abscess. This OSU patient had a colonscopy scheduled which required that he receive tap water enemas. OSU patient had been a patient on our unit several times with Crohns flares and abscess in the past. He had been thru this procedure several times both inpatient and outpatient. This time he felt that he was not able to give himself the tap water enemas. Sharon Roberts, being the caring nurse that she is, assisted him with this process. This was not an easy task as the patient was unable to relax to even start the process. Instead of insisting that the patient just relax to hurry and get the task completed, Sharon checked on her other patients to give the patient time to prepare himself to try again. She met the other patient's needs and then returned to the OSU patient. She very slowly started the task all while soothingly talking to the patient to help him relax. She was very patient and went at his pace. The patient had to make various sounds that would make someone walking by question what was happening (the patient said this) but Sharon soothed and comforted him by allowing him to express himself without judgment. During this time she also took time to medicate the patient for pain to help ease the process for him.

The OSU patient was able to get his test done, get diagnosed, and began treatment. I came into work the night that the OSU patient went through this ordeal. I asked him "how was your day". This is when he began to tell me about the incident. He told me how painful it was and how appreciative he was that Sharon was concerned with managing his pain as well as completing the task. Per the patient, "most nurses would have said well I can't give you pain medicine until we are done." He praised the fact that Sharon medicated him first, making him feel that she cared and was concerned with how he felt as opposed to just getting the enemas done. He also praised the fact that she took her time and did not rush to get the task done. She was able to get the task completed and still make the patient feel as if he was her only one for the day. He talked about how she was not judgmental of him during the process and how that actually helped him to relax to get it done. The patient stated "I could not have done this with anyone else. She was so gentle and so patient and she made me feel like she wasn't judging me and that she actually cared about me."



And as the patient was describing his ordeal I could picture it happening in my head. And I could picture Sharon calming stroking the patient's self-esteem so that he could get the care he needed. I have seen Sharon working with other patients and I told the patient that he had described her completely. She has a calming nature even in times of turmoil that helps to keep you grounded. My heart was overjoyed as he told me the story because the end result was he got what he needed and he actually felt a sense of accomplishment in getting the testing done. He was very grateful that she was his nurse and said he would love for her to take care of him anytime. When he said that he would recommend that she take care of any of his friends and family I knew she had touched him in a way that he would never forget.

And to me this is what nursing is all about. Touching the lives of our patients and families. Making them feel better as they are going through their difficult times. The patient told me he would never forget the way she treated him. I believe that he will tell everyone about his experience with the wonderful nurse named Sharon who helped him when he was most vulnerable. Sharon exemplifies to me what the DAISY Award is all about; Extraordinary nurses touching people's lives in an extraordinary way. And what way is more extraordinary than knowing that the patient will never forget how wonderful Sharon made him feel in his time of need. It is for this reason that I nominate Sharon Roberts for the DAISY Award. She inspires me to be the best nurse I can be and to give my patients the best care possible. Sharon inspires our staff to be the best and our patients love her for that.