Patty was working as a clinical instructor and was helping one of her students take my patient's blood sugar. When they asked the patient for her name and date of birth, they realized her birthday was the following week and brought this up. The patient became tearful, indicating that she hated her birthday. She said she never had anyone to celebrate with since her mom passed away and she always wished the day away. Patty took it upon herself to go to the gift shop, buy the patient a gift and balloon and then brought all of her students in to the room to sing happy birthday and deliver the gift. The patient broke out in tears, thanking the 'angels' for doing such a kind act for her. Patty told the patient that each year she must do one nice thing for herself on her birthday and wear the bracelet she had bought her to remember this. Throughout the rest of the day the patient kept telling me how happy she was and that she could never repay the nurse and the students for the gift they had given her. We placed the balloon at the end of her bed so she could constantly see it and the bracelet was put on immediately.
I feel so honored to have witnessed such a kind and heartfelt act. Not only did Patty make a difference in that patient's life, but she also taught her students that one kind act can completely transform a patient's attitude and benefit their care.