At any time, on any given day, all of us (including healthcare professionals) can become the person in need. I want to recognize one of my colleagues for her heart of gold.
I was not an "official patient" in the ER where I work, but I was an employee, a person struggling with some of my own personal issues and one of my fellow nurses really had a tremendous impact on me and the outcome of another person, another patient, in a different city.
My father had been fighting a losing battle with lung cancer for 1.5 years. My family (including myself) had been on this terrifying roller coaster with him during his journey. Cancer is ugly, does not discriminate, and takes its toll on everyone involved.
It was in March when I got the call from Hospice, while in a meeting at work that Dad was running out of time. It was a call I knew was coming, but never quite ready to hear. My friend, my coworker, Sharon McClelland was there when I heard the news. Hospice told me that my time with my Dad would be short. Dad would soon not be able to talk to me and respond to me and I was scheduled to work that weekend.
Any other time, it may have been easy enough to go after my weekend, but I had another obstacle, my husband was getting ready to have a total hip replacement the following Monday and I would be his designated caregiver and unable to travel. I was trembling, crying yet accepting the fact that life was going to prohibit me from being with my father in his last lucid days.
Sharon has always been a role model for nurses. Her everyday work with her patients, her knowledge base, her sense of caring has always been apparent. She recently received a promotion and is now working as our ER educator and no longer works at the bedside, but she was right by my side that day. Without hesitation, Sharon was at my side consoling me. Her words were comforting, and her touch so needed to and appreciated. She listened to my situation and she anticipated my needs, just as she did all the years she worked at the bedside. She prayed with me and for my father. Without being asked, she looked me in my eyes and said, "I will work for you Sunday. Go be with your father." Sharon isn't in staffing anymore. This was above and beyond her new role in administration, but she was willing to help me have a last memory of my father.
That being said, Sharon sacrificed her weekend and did a job she was no longer required to do for a patient in a different city. She saw a true need and made it happen for me, a colleague and a patient in need.
That was the last day my father was able to interact with us. That was the last smile, I ever got the privilege of seeing. That was one of my last kisses on his cheek. Those are memories that would not have been possible if Sharon wasn't there for her staff and my father.
Sharon went about and beyond for me and my father that weekend. In this case, Sharon's patient was an hour and a half away and she was not directly being compensated for helping him.
My father passed away shortly after. Sharon gave him one of his last smiles and one of my last memories of him and for that, I am grateful.