I came to the ER with a victim of a rape who was also grossly intoxicated. Charity was the nurse working with our victim and performed above and beyond to provide the best victim-centered care, and trauma-informed care for the victim. Charity’s concern and care for the victim were clearly evident. She not only assisted the victim in feeling safe as she received care but also assisted the officers and me in providing a comfortable environment for the victim to slowly disclose the details of the sexual assault.

Even though the ER was busy and the staff was stressed, Charity allowed the investigative team and me the time to do a thorough investigation and access resources for the victim. Charity also provided comfort and care to the victim as she experienced the symptoms of acute trauma/stress and intoxication. Charity was an amazing advocate for the victim, requesting medications to help her feel less anxious and ensuring that the EHR documentation was victim-centered while also being clinically accurate.

In my experience, it is uncommon for nurses to be able to allocate the time and emotional resources to provide the intensive care that Charity provided. I believe that Charity performed her role as a nurse and care provider with excellence. She is a great example of what nursing is meant to be and should be praised for not only her clinical acumen, but her care, compassion, and advocacy. I sincerely hope to work with Charity again in the future. She is a gem.