January 2021
Tinu
Joseph
,
RN
MSW
Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital
UAQ
United Arab Emirates
Tinu maintained contact with his family on her off days and kept them informed about his progress.
It was just another day at work when she received a 60-year-old man who had been admitted via ICU due to Subdural Hemorrhage. He later tested positive for COVID-19 and was transferred to the COVID unit. When he saw her, he burst into tears because she reminded him of his daughter. Tinu felt sorry for him and inquired about his family, but due to his condition, he was unable to fully express his feelings. Then he demanded a pen and paper, and he wrote about his family, his hopes, and his daughter's future and worries, among other things, with tears streaming down his cheeks. Tinu was saddened by this, and she decided to go the extra mile and support him in order to make him feel better. Tinu was aware that she meant a lot more to the patient than just a nurse because of the resemblance between her and his daughter. Tinu always requested to be assigned to him and because during the shift she couldn’t spend much time with him to have a conversation, she stayed behind to give ample time for this patient to ventilate and have a chat. Tinu attempted to contact the patient's family after a few days; she knew he had a young daughter and a bedridden wife. He was planning to travel to his family, but due to the Pandemic, he was stranded and unable to return to his homeland, which is when he fainted and was rushed to the hospital. Also, due to COVID restrictions, his family was unaware of his current situation. They were shocked to learn of this, but Tinu reassured them, saying, his condition is improving day by day." He'll be fine soon.” In addition, Tinu maintained contact with his family on her off days and kept them informed about his progress. His condition gradually and steadily improved; he began to speak and always asked for Tinu because he felt safe in her hands because it was she who gave him hope and unconditional emotional support. He was able to move around in a wheelchair and was optimistic about his recovery. “Thank you, sister, for bringing a ray of hope into my life,” the man said to her. "I couldn't have done it without you.” Moments like this truly highlight what an extraordinary nurse Tinu Joseph is.