February 2023
Lynette
Hicks-Humes
,
BSN, RN
Pulmonary
Ascension St. John Hospital
Detroit
,
MI
United States
If everyone in the world was a little more like Lynette, the world truly would be a better place.
I have worked for SJH for around three months and there is a specific nurse that has stood out to me from all other nurses I have interacted with. Her name is Lynette on 4L. One of my first patients when I started covering 4L was a non-verbal gentleman with cerebral palsy. When I first witnessed Lynette interacting with him, my heart was instantly warmed. The way she was caring for him and interacting with him was the way a mother would hope and pray someone would care for their child. It wasn't a one-time interaction either. This patient was under our care for an extended amount of time and every time I saw Lynette's name next to his room number, I knew he was in the very best hands that day. During my visits at various times, I witnessed her providing wound care, baths, administration of meds and adjustment of tube feeding (just to name a few things), and every single time she cared for him she was so gentle and attentive. She would talk to him about what she was doing and why, and she even talked to him about what he was watching on TV and would make sure that his favorite programs were on for him. I don't know how she knew which ones he liked, but I'm not surprised that she knew, because she truly cares about even the smallest details regarding her patients. As a mother myself, I just thought wow, I hope that if my child was admitted to the hospital and I wasn't able to be there all the time, that they would have Lynette as a nurse because she is such a gentle and kind-hearted soul. When you hear about somebody who has found their calling or just fits perfectly into a job, Lynette is that person as a nurse. She is not only amazing with her patients, but she has also been so helpful to me as a new employee. She has helped me navigate the unit to figure out who is who, and has never been annoyed when I call her three times in one day about one patient - even when she is busy. She always knows exactly what's going on with her patients, and she has often helped me with questions about other patients on her unit that she may have had a different day. Lastly, I've watched her interact with her colleagues and she is always so warm and helpful to them as well. Essentially, I just think she deserves recognition because this hospital system is incredibly lucky to have her. If everyone in the world was a little more like Lynette, the world truly would be a better place. She is an absolute gem and pleasure to work with.