At my week-long stay at ECMC, Jessie was the first nurse taking care of me and the nurse I had at discharge. She had been my nurse multiple times throughout my stay. During this time, Jessie treated not only myself but all of her patients with kindness, compassion, and patience. Beyond her excellent clinical skills, Jessie exemplified immeasurable compassion, empathy, and a gentle but comforting strength.
As a fellow nurse, I personally witnessed Jessie in a very challenging situation with a patient being very unkind and impatient towards her. Jessie was able to engage and empathize with this patient taking the time to understand how she could meet the patient's needs better. I witnessed the patient's attitude change from angry and short (wanting to leave against medical advice when in serious need of medical care), to opening up to Jessie about the hardships she had been through and expressing her emotions without anger, but with a therapeutic expression of emotion. Each morning when I saw Jessie was going to be my nurse, I felt a sense of relief and joy during a very difficult and vulnerable time I was facing being in the hospital. Her integrity and compassion for her patients is something I will never forget. She is a true asset to ECMC.