In early January, I had to bring my mother to the Emergency Room for syncope and tachycardia. She was very nervous and almost reluctant to go, as she had not been to a doctor in years, let alone a hospital. The ER staff worked quickly and wonderfully, and within 6 hours, she had a room (this was extremely surprising given the national staffing shortage). Needless to say, I was very grateful! My mother, on the other hand, was very nervous and embarrassed regarding her new diagnosis. It was something she had avoided facing for a considerable amount of time. She mentioned many times that she worried people would place judgment or make her feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. I assured her we would get through this and move forward. The next morning, Janelle was assigned to care for her. I was ecstatic! I assured my mother that Janelle was a wonderful and intelligent nurse and that she even trained me when I first came to CTU. Throughout the day, Janelle kept me informed of my mother’s plan of care, even calling me and making sure I knew when to be at the bedside to discuss further plans. When I arrived later in the afternoon, my mother was sitting up in bed, smiling and eating! She was a new person! After she said, "Hi Honey," she immediately began telling me about her day with Janelle. She complimented her, stating, "She was so sweet, smart, considerate, compassionate, and never once made me feel embarrassed or ashamed." She went on to describe Janelle’s caring bedside manner and her willingness to explain everything in conversation that she could understand. She was appreciative that Janelle made her feel comfortable when discussing her plan of care. I truly feel that my mother turned over a new leaf because Janelle was patient, truthful, and kind. She needed someone like her to show her that she WILL be ok and that she can move forward. To many, this may not be a big deal, but to us, it’s everything.