After a night of one hour of sleep, I was in a horrible hostile mood. The sheets had to be changed and I couldn’t get out of bed. Renju and another nurse had to do it with me in bed. As I didn’t cooperate, Renju stayed calm, more than professional, she commiserated with me and let me complain until she got my cooperation by assuring me it was ok. She conveyed a sense that she could handle my lack of cooperation. As the bed changing progressed, I was surprised to find myself actually liking her because she accepted my negativity as important to me. I stopped feeling like a bad person for being so standoffish. Renju was a human tranquilizer and actually calmed me down.

Renju was efficient and careful while she adjusted the equipment I was connected to, and she also looked over at me and smiled to make me feel she was glad I was in her ward. I could relax and lay back against my pillow.

Even her jabbing a needle into me became okay since she was quick but careful to find the vein and not hurt me.

When I was nervous, Renju gently repeated her reassurances. Often, I needed more than one repeat and she gave it patiently.

When she asked if I was feeling ok, I knew she wanted to know for my sake as well as hers and the doctors. She checkout out my replies for more detail. The way she asked, and her attentive expression made me feel more than the information I was sharing, I felt a connection with her because it wasn’t just routine but that she cared about how I was feeling.

If I have another hospital Stay, I hope I’m back in Renju’s ward.

Note: This is Renju's second DAISY Award!