Sometimes you have an interaction with a nurse that you never forget. That is the impact that she had on me. I was a newly graduated nurse whose mother at 89 years with dementia, was re-hospitalized following a prior broken hip and now had pneumonia. I knew that my mother's end was coming. I had seen the decline over the prior year and understood it was just a matter of time. Well, our time was near. I watched as Ms. Brumfield care for my mother like none of the other nurses had. She interacted and tried to get my mother to interact and participate in her care.

Although my mother's age, motivation, and mentation had such a negative impact on the ultimate outcome, I remember Eloise making my mother smile as she called her Miss L. I thought at the time, "How can this nurse be so perky knowing the likely outcome?" But she was. I thought about as a new grad; what will I do when I am in that situation? How does one give the concern and compassion knowing that death is inevitable? The example was in front of me. Ms. Eloise was that example. She gave all she had to make my mother comfortable.

We went home to hospice and my mother passed away the next day. She went peacefully. To this day 8 years later every time I think of Ms. Eloise and her interactions with my mother it brings tears to my eyes and every time I see her I give her a big hug. That is the impact she had on not only my mother and her care but myself as well. I strive to be that nurse. The nurse with compassion and kindness she displayed in a very difficult time.