Earlier this week, I witnessed a situation here in the ED, and I was so profoundly inspired by the heart of a nurse who truly embodies compassion, dignity, and selflessness. A patient was struggling with an incredibly difficult and uncontrollable bout of diarrhea, and as you can imagine, things had gotten out of hand in the bathroom. There was poop everywhere: on the floor, the walls, the sink, the toilet, and puddles at the patient's feet. A mess beyond words, a nightmare for anyone to face, let alone in such a vulnerable moment. It’s a situation that many would recoil from, a situation where some might respond with judgment or impatience. Nurse Morgan Chichester didn’t hesitate, didn’t flinch. She walked into that bathroom, and without a moment of hesitation, she took a deep breath and faced that chaos with pure, calm, loving compassion. Morgan approached the patient with such kindness, bringing wipes, new briefs, Chuck Pads, soap, clean clothes, and even bags for the patient’s belongings. Every time the patient needed something, Morgan was there, steady, consistent, and caring. And no matter how many times the patient’s condition sent her back to the bathroom, Morgan never once made her feel like a burden. She never once lost her composure, her patience, or her kindness.

What truly moved me is what happened after the patient finally left the bathroom. After this patient had gone through the physical and emotional strain of it all, Morgan did something else that left me in awe. She didn’t just wash her hands and walk away. Morgan walked into that mess of a bathroom, armed with Clorox wipes, a determined attitude, and a heart full of resolve. She cleaned. She scrubbed that bathroom down like it was her own, not hesitating to clean every corner, every wall, every surface. She took on the full brunt of the work, not for recognition, not for praise, but because she knew what needed to be done and she was willing to do it without a second thought. I imagine there were moments when even the ceiling was touched by what needed to be cleaned, but Morgan didn’t stop. She went above and beyond in ways that most would never see, all because of her commitment to her patients’ care and well-being. I know all of this because I spoke with that patient later that day, and I will never forget the way she spoke of Morgan.

She told me how deeply embarrassed she was by what had happened, how humiliated she felt by the mess, the chaos, and the uncontrollable situation she found herself in. But then, with tears in her eyes, she told me that Morgan made her feel okay. Morgan made her feel like she wasn’t a huge burden. She told me how Morgan had treated her with such compassion and dignity that she had never once felt judged. Even though this was one of the most mortifying experiences of her life, Morgan somehow made it bearable, and in doing so, she helped her maintain her dignity. The patient left that bathroom with her self-respect intact. And that, I know, is the very essence of what it means to be a nurse. It’s not just about the medical care or the technical expertise; it’s about the heart, the kindness, and the ability to make a person feel like they matter, no matter the circumstances. Morgan is a special, rare kind of person, and the world is better because of nurses like her. Morgan didn’t just see a patient in distress, she saw a person who needed care, comfort, and respect. And she delivered that in spades. She treated this woman like she was her own family, and in doing so, she showed us all what it truly means to go above and beyond. To put aside your own discomfort, your own time, and your own energy, for someone else in their darkest, most vulnerable moment.