As I conducted leader rounding on this patient, I was reminded of what above and beyond looks like. The patient had a history of stroke and mobility was limited. The first few days I rounded on the patient, his answers were short and to the point. By the 4th day, as he got to know me better, I asked him if he had anyone he wanted to recognize by name. At first, he said no, then he said, very quietly, "Well actually yes I do."
He said Robin stood out to him because she gave him a haircut. With tears in his eyes he explained that his family didn't come see him anymore which makes him angry and grumpy. He said when she was finished with his haircut and cleaning his face, she showed me the mirror.
When I provided Robin this feedback she teared up. She stated, "He doesn't have a lot to say most of the time, but I knew he was down because he didn't have any visitors." Robin shared with me, she just wanted to cheer him up; "I didn't think he would even remember my name." Working in a hospital on an inpatient unit is busy and taking the time to do extra takes planning and compassion. This is an excellent reminder to me of how much these types of acts can mean to a patient.