My son was admitted to the ICU and was on a ventilator for a little more than a week. After he was taken off, he was more than a little ornery. His nurse was exceptionally kind and caring to my son. When he was obstinate and refusing to do things, she would sit with him patiently and listen to his “negotiations.” She worked really hard to meet his “demands”; however, she always made his safety and care a priority. He really hated the hand protectors, but when he needed them, she somehow got them on. He got to a point where he was insisting that he wanted to get up and walk to the toilet. She and the nurse’s assistant devised a way to help him attempt to do that. It took tremendous effort, including disconnecting a bunch of wires. They moved his bed and helped him try to get to the toilet. He was unable to get there, as I’m sure they knew, but they gave him a chance, treated him with dignity, and said they’d try again.