This week, we had a surgical patient in for a urology procedure that turned into a more complex procedure, and the patient was admitted to the Medical Surgical Unit. Jamie is the nurse who cared for this patient and his wife during pre-op. As she was getting the patient ready and communicating with the couple, she learned that it was the couple's 48th wedding anniversary. She told the patient that they would soon be celebrating their golden 50th anniversary. The patient spoke up and told her that due to cancer, he would not be here for two years to celebrate this anniversary. She asked the couple what they did to celebrate their anniversaries. The couple stated they usually do nothing but stay at home and wish each other a happy anniversary.

After the surgery and the patient was admitted to the Medical Surgical Unit, she came into the patient's room and bought the couple two pieces of strawberry shortcake that she had purchased from the cafeteria for their anniversary. This excited the couple and brought tears of joy to their eyes to see the loving care this nurse had brought to them after they had received difficult surgical outcome news. She showed compassion and empathy towards this couple, which extended beyond regular nursing care and shows the holistic side of nursing.