Shannon King
January 2020
Shannon
King
,
RN, BSN, CEN
Emergency Room
Medical City Plano
Plano
,
TX
United States
A 6-year-old girl came into the ER for seizures. Her mother brought her in through triage along with her brother who is 10 years old. He was not the patient, yet he remained in the ER at his sister's bedside throughout her stay.
Shannon King escorted this family to the ER. As she always does with her patients, she started a conversation and created an uplifting and trusting rapport with the two kiddos. While initiating care, she learned there was something special about the patient's brother. It was his 10th birthday and his mother had to cancel his birthday party because he and his family were in the ER with his little sister.
Shannon began going through the department in search of a special stuffed animal for the little girl, anything that would help ease the fear. Knowing the boy was not going to celebrate his 10th birthday with a party as planned, she kept saying, "I just want to do something!" In her search for something sweet, she thought about getting a cookie or cupcake from the cafeteria as a way to celebrate this young boy's special day.
About that time, one of the PA's in the ER just happened to bring a chocolate cake to work to share with the ER staff. Shannon immediately took possession of the cake before anyone else could touch it knowing that this was the "something" special she was looking for.
After a few phone calls by the charge nurse, and a few runners here and there, the entire ER was involved and excited to celebrate his birthday. With a now decorated cake that read "Happy Birthday", plates, utensils, balloons, and a gathering of approximately 20 ER team members, this little boy, his sister, and his mother were serenaded by ER nurses, paramedics, doctors, PA's, registration, environmental services, lab, radiology, a police officer and a respiratory therapist.
The patient was eventually discharged, and he was happy to leave the ER with a balloon and chocolate in tow. It is not surprising at all that Shannon's heart poured out for this little boy. She searched until she could find "something, anything that would make his day better." Well, she found it. Hopefully, it was a birthday he will never forget and a gesture that warmed a worried mother's heart. It is a pleasure and an honor to work alongside Shannon. Her example today is what makes us all proud to be ER nurses!
Shannon King escorted this family to the ER. As she always does with her patients, she started a conversation and created an uplifting and trusting rapport with the two kiddos. While initiating care, she learned there was something special about the patient's brother. It was his 10th birthday and his mother had to cancel his birthday party because he and his family were in the ER with his little sister.
Shannon began going through the department in search of a special stuffed animal for the little girl, anything that would help ease the fear. Knowing the boy was not going to celebrate his 10th birthday with a party as planned, she kept saying, "I just want to do something!" In her search for something sweet, she thought about getting a cookie or cupcake from the cafeteria as a way to celebrate this young boy's special day.
About that time, one of the PA's in the ER just happened to bring a chocolate cake to work to share with the ER staff. Shannon immediately took possession of the cake before anyone else could touch it knowing that this was the "something" special she was looking for.
After a few phone calls by the charge nurse, and a few runners here and there, the entire ER was involved and excited to celebrate his birthday. With a now decorated cake that read "Happy Birthday", plates, utensils, balloons, and a gathering of approximately 20 ER team members, this little boy, his sister, and his mother were serenaded by ER nurses, paramedics, doctors, PA's, registration, environmental services, lab, radiology, a police officer and a respiratory therapist.
The patient was eventually discharged, and he was happy to leave the ER with a balloon and chocolate in tow. It is not surprising at all that Shannon's heart poured out for this little boy. She searched until she could find "something, anything that would make his day better." Well, she found it. Hopefully, it was a birthday he will never forget and a gesture that warmed a worried mother's heart. It is a pleasure and an honor to work alongside Shannon. Her example today is what makes us all proud to be ER nurses!