Janice Spence
April 2022
Janice
Spence
,
RN
Senior Care
Baptist Memorial Healthcare
Booneville
,
MS
United States

 

 

 

Janice got on her knees and placed the patient’s feet in the warm soapy water and started to use the toothbrush to gently clean between each toe and the bottom of her feet.
We had a patient that was admitted from the ED, she was a kind lady who needed our help because she was no longer able to care for herself. I was sitting in the hallway watching another patient and I noticed Janice “Mimi” Spence scurrying around. She was gathering up a bath pan with warm water, towels, and a toothbrush. I was wondering why a toothbrush but I said nothing but watched her. Janice got on her knees and placed the patient’s feet in the warm soapy water and started to use the toothbrush to gently clean between each toe and the bottom of her feet. I glanced at the patient’s face and she was smiling and stated “she is an angel sent from heaven.” The patient thanked Janice and told her how she had been unable to clean her feet. Janice showed extra kindness and delivered not only physical therapeutic treatment for this patient but also emotional care. That’s what nursing is all about. Treating the whole person. Truly this act reflected the act of love and kindness Jesus had shown to his disciples when he washed their feet making an example of how we should serve others.