While rounding on Cheyenne Hensley during one of her shifts, I asked her to share a patient connection with me. Without hesitation, she exuberantly shared with me this story:
Cheyenne had a female patient who was a single mother, worked full time at a fast food restaurant, and was very anxious during her visit because of the stress that surrounds her daily. Cheyenne asked her, "Well, all moms deserve "mom" time to themselves, what do you do special for yourself to "wind down" or relax with being such a hardworking mommy?" The patient replied, "Well, sometimes, I read to my kids at bedtime when they're quiet."
Cheyenne then took the extra time to give this mama a "moment of paradise", knowing by her response, that she does not often have quiet time to herself. She sought out a warm rag and applied some subtle peppermint and lavender essential oils and gave her a hand massage. Then, she lowered the lights in the room, put ocean sounds on her phone, and told her to close her eyes, relax, and enjoy the short amount of "alone time" she would have while waiting for her discharge papers. Cheyenne even went as far as to warn the doctor not to disturb her for the next 15 minutes because she "is on a beach vacation!" I always look forward to Cheyenne's patient stories, as she is always so humble, and is always placing others before herself. She demonstrates exemplary compassion and has prayed over or with her patients many times. She leads a great example of what "connecting with the patient" is all about!