Colleen Seider has been an emergency nurse for many years. She has experienced the ups and downs of nursing and the feelings of defeat during times when outcomes were less than expected. Despite this, Colleen continues to have a level of dedication that stands out. She treats each of her patients with kindness and respect, regardless of the situation.
During September Colleen cared for a patient who was suffering from alcohol addiction. The patient turned to the Western Ridge ED for help. She was vulnerable and at any moment could have chosen to walk out the door, but she didn't.
Exactly one year later, after her original emergency department visit, the patient returned to our department. This time, she didn't check in as a patient. Instead, she was here to thank the team that cared for her and gave her a chance. She was here to thank Colleen for making a difference…a difference that gave her one year of sobriety.
The card she left read: "Last year, I came to your emergency department sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was extremely hung over and I wanted to quit drinking. You checked me out and made sure I wouldn't experience any dangerous withdrawal symptoms, but more importantly, you treated me with dignity and respect. Thank you for helping me. Here's to one year of sobriety and hopefully many more!"
Although Colleen didn't realize it at the time, her empathetic approach and kindness, something that comes naturally to her, truly made a huge difference in the life of this patient. It's because of this that I feel strongly that she is more than deserving of being recognized for the "super-human" work that she does every day.