Recently, I had the opportunity to witness a beautiful moment of caring at its best in nursing. I was working a 12-hour night shift with a seasoned charge nurse. It was a busy night with high census and complex patients. At about 4:00 am, we received a call from the emergency department that we were getting an admission that would take our last empty bed. It was a 52-year-old woman who was being admitted for an overdose. She was a "frequent flyer" to the emergency department and unfortunately had a reputation for being belligerent to staff after she received Narcan. She had left many times "against medical advice" and was not receptive to interventions from either nursing staff or social services.
The charge nurse, Deb Kunder, was going to have to take this patient because the remainder of the nurses on the floor had full assignments. Rather than displaying a disgruntled attitude, Deb remained professional throughout the report from the emergency department. Once the patient arrived Deb took the time to get her settled in the room and do the admission assessment. Deb treated her with dignity and respect just as if she were any other patient that was having a medical emergency.
After walking the patient to the restroom, the charge nurse knelt down next to the patient. Deb was holding her hand while gently touching her shoulder ensuring the patient that we were here to help her. Deb expressed how sorry she was that the women was suffering and going through a difficult time. After a brief pause, Deb gently asked the patient, "are you able to tell me what [drugs] you took this evening?" The patient gripped Deb's hand and began to weep as she rattled off a list of narcotics she had taken. For the first time, this woman was receptive to help. I was moved to tears to see such a real demonstration of caring for a patient that others might say did not deserve it.