I work in Registration in the ER and on a Saturday, a few weeks ago, I witnessed something nothing short of awesome.

Emma, one of the nurses had been at lunch. While she was at lunch, the wife of one of her patients came out of the room multiple times telling the covering nurses that her husband needed to use the restroom, but needed help, as he was all hooked up. The other nurses kept telling her, they’d be in shortly. Nobody ever went in to help him, so finally, the patient managed to get himself unhooked and walked to the bathroom. He didn’t quite make it and made a big mess. His wife poked her head in the restroom and told him that she would grab a nurse to help him get cleaned up. He was very insistent that she didn’t because he was terribly embarrassed. She told us (Registration) and we told the nurses. Still, NOBODY came to help him. Finally, Emma came back from lunch, and we told her what happened. She quickly went over to the bathroom and knocked and asked if she could come in to help. She was SO kind and calm and spoke to him in such a manner letting him know he didn’t have anything to be embarrassed about. She didn’t hesitate to give this patient the help he needed IMMEDIATELY. She didn’t snicker and stand around. She jumped into action the moment she walked back in from lunch. This patient was around the same age as my dad, and I assure you, if that was MY family and I witnessed the “lack of care” that they experienced while Emma was at lunch, I would have been furious.

I have witnessed several more “awesome” moments with Emma and her patients, and I can testify, that we need more amazing nurses like her. She is so calm and caring and treats her patients like she would want someone treating HER family. I just thought she deserved to be recognized.