My husband was a patient in the critical care unit these past 4 days. Each nurse, ancillary staff, hospitalists, and consulting doctors were professional and kind.
Our most recent night nurse, Elizabeth Kurian, cared for him 2 consecutive nights. The first night he was restless, anxious and in considerable pain. Elizabeth spent considerable time listening to me explain the life-changing circumstances he had been through starting last year. She listened, calmly asking quality questions about his usual routine, what comforts him, what relieves the pain, how could she make his stay more positive.
Elizabeth's second night as my husband's nurse was similar to the first night. Elizabeth took considerable time assuring him he was in a safe place and she would be the only one caring for him. She spoke slowly and softly, reassuring, comforting him, trying different positions to settle him comfortably in the bed and using different nursing measures to address his needs, evaluating, anticipating, and then successfully meeting them.
Elizabeth recognized the importance of faith and prayer to my husband, asking him if he wanted to pray - then joining with us as he did pray. My husband relaxed and I went home. Early the next morning she called and shared the details of my husband's night, how well he slept, even after being assisted for needs throughout the night. I just wept, that she cared enough to reassure me at the end of her long shift.
Eventually, my husband was transferred to the Med/Surg floor so we were surprised to see Elizabeth come in at bedtime to say hello. She again encouraged and comforted my husband as he faced another night in the hospital. It was her day off, but she changed her plans to work her unit when asked if she could help out.
For Elizabeth, being a nurse is not just a job. She has an inner quality of compassion for individuals to help them medically, but also to give them hope. She definitely exemplifies what it means to go above and beyond.