I was at the hospital ED working a clinical. I brought a patient back to a room. The patient had just moved here from Texas and was upset because her family stole her medications, and her husband of 30+ years just left her. The patient asked me for a blanket, and I went to grab that for her. When I returned to the room, the patient was sobbing. Kristi was sitting on the bed with the patient, holding her and comforting her while she confided in her. I thought to myself, "Wow, this is exactly what Florence Nightingale had in mind." It's so easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of patients in the ER. Seeing Kristi slow down and make an actual connection with a patient who was going through a crisis was so moving. To have such empathy and compassion for a patient she had never met before. It was beautiful. Truly a nurse above the rest.

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I have only had one other ER experience prior to visiting Nashville General Hospital. From the moment I walked into Nashville General Hospital to the moment I left, it was an incredible experience. I can attribute this great experience to the nurses, technicians, and doctors who all assisted me that day. In particular, my nurse that day, Kristi L., was truly outstanding. It felt like she actually cared how I was feeling which is something I have not experienced in other doctor appointments or emergency situations. She didn't rush me when I asked questions, and she didn't make me feel weak. Instead, she let me ask as many questions as I wanted and answered with humor, patience, and care. She made me feel incredibly safe during a scary, painful experience. She was also very attentive and quick to check in on me. I found out that day that I had a 5 mm kidney stone. She related to me by sharing her own kidney stone experience and gave me advice on how to deal with kidney stones going forward. I am so grateful to have had her as my nurse that day. Being a nurse is clearly her life calling, and anyone who has her as their nurse going forward will be incredibly blessed.

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Her compassion for others is second to none. I was caring for a patient who needed an emergency transfer to another hospital. After receiving the news, the patient's partner was distraught. She was sitting on a hall bed outside the patient's room, sobbing. I was attempting to prepare my patient for transfer - I told his partner I would try to provide supportive care to her as best as I could. I went into the room to continue the task on my patient. When I turned around, Kristi Lamb was sitting on the hall bed with my patient's partner. She was allowing the patient to cry on her shoulder, while she embraced her and listened to her concerns. The partner was concerned about how she would get to the next hospital, as she did not have a car. Kristi not only provided compassionate care to her, but also arranged for a taxi to get her to the next hospital to be with her partner. This level of caring is truly an outstanding example of what nursing stands for. Caring for patients extends past caring for the patient to caring for their families as well. Not only did Kristi provide compassionate care to his partner, but also to my patient, as he was less anxious knowing he would have his partner at the next hospital with him as well. We get so lost in our task sometimes, going through the motions. Give these meds, chart this assessment - but not Kristi. Kristi sees the patient, the family, and all the small details that make that patient unique. Not only just for her patients either. This was my patient - how easy would it have been for Kristi to see the partner in the hallway crying and think "not my problem." But she didn't. She saw someone in need, and without a second thought came to their side to provide compassionate care.