This person was providing a teaching session at Leeds University when some extremely tragic news broke to the group she was teaching. This was the sudden and untimely death of their colleague and friend, who was part of the International Nurses program. The situation very quickly changed from a clinical teaching session into one of extreme tragedy when all the international nurses learned of the death of their colleague and friend.
Rebecca had no warning of the news that morning. Additionally, the weather outside was very dangerous with persistent snowfall that day and driving conditions were unsafe. The international nurses had not experienced weather like this ever before. Rebecca had to adapt very quickly to ensure that the nurses were supported as much as possible; she provided compassion and care that was so heartfelt and encompassed all of the Leeds Way Behaviors. Her calm and professional outlook is a credit to her and the team that supports the international nurses.
Rebecca demonstrated kindness and went far above her role when she spent 2 hours with all the nurses in the room to provide comfort and support in their acute grief and despair. Following this, she abandoned her car at Leeds University and walked with all the international nurses to Clarence Dock, some 2 miles across the city of Leeds where the weather was deteriorating and snowing. There were no buses running or taxis to help them. The international nurses would have been lost without Rebecca's guidance and leadership she demonstrated this day.
After they arrived at Clarence Dock, Rebecca ensured that they were supported amongst themselves following the tragic news and the bad weather which caused difficulty in them getting back to their accommodation safely.
The day was getting dark by this point and Rebecca had to walk all the 2 miles back to Leeds University to her car before having to drive home in the weather. She was tired, cold, and exhausted from the compassion she had shown to the nurses and was upset at the sad news for the team.
Rebecca did not get home until 7:30 pm that evening, having spent all afternoon on foot to ensure the safety of the international nurses was placed before her own. This is truly selfless and shows the care and compassion Rebecca provided on this very difficult and tragic day.
As her line manager, I received some outstanding feedback and praise from the staff at Leeds University who said that Rebecca's actions that day supported those nurses just the same as if they had been her family. They were so impressed at Rebecca's quick thinking, compassion, and care and felt she had gone above and beyond to ensure those nurses were supported at that difficult time and also they had returned home safely.