Tom Arnold
December 2020
Tom
Arnold
,
RN
ED
Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center
We watched Tom interact with the child by inflating a blue nitrile glove creating a tether with Coban, having the child laughing and playing during this stressful time, all while wearing his brightly colored Hawaiian shirt.
Tom is one of those nurses who consistently shows immense care and compassion to his patients even when no one is looking but does so because it's just who he is as a person and as a nurse, not because he's looking for recognition. He is especially good with our children who come into the ER sick and scared.
Last weekend, Tom cared for a middle-school aged girl in the emergency department who attempted to commit suicide. When she first arrived, she vomited and was embarrassed. Tom took the time to get towels and some soap, and personally help wash her face, telling her that it's ok and nothing to be embarrassed about. The patient's mother sent a note about Tom's kindness and care and said that she felt comfortable enough leaving her young daughter overnight in the Emergency Department because of the love shown by nurses like Tom. "I knew she was safe and in good hands."
A few days later, I walked by a treatment room and Tom was crouched down next to a young child, showing him stickers and cracking jokes about cartoons to help take his mind off of the blood draws and medications he was getting. Tom's compassionate care exemplifies the kind of nurse our patients, their families, and we as KP staff recognize as an outstanding role model.
***
I can honestly say this is overdue. I have watched Tom since my start here 3 years ago. He has an innate ability to build rapport with patients. What motivated me to write this today was his interaction with a young girl who had a vascular lesion on the face. We watched Tom interact with the child by inflating a blue nitrile glove creating a tether with Coban, having the child laughing and playing during this stressful time, all while wearing his brightly colored Hawaiian shirt. This brought joy not only to me but the entire physician group working that day. This is really the joy in medicine we are all after. As we stood from the nursing station watching with all the doctors gathered around the comments were "he is my favorite nurse", "he does so well with kids and psych patients," and another said this should be a Thrive commercial. Tom spends his free time entertaining people with his antics as a clown. He is an extremely competent nurse, has a huge heart, and genuinely cares for his patients, although he won't admit it. He really deserves to be recognized for his contributions to the nursing practice.
Last weekend, Tom cared for a middle-school aged girl in the emergency department who attempted to commit suicide. When she first arrived, she vomited and was embarrassed. Tom took the time to get towels and some soap, and personally help wash her face, telling her that it's ok and nothing to be embarrassed about. The patient's mother sent a note about Tom's kindness and care and said that she felt comfortable enough leaving her young daughter overnight in the Emergency Department because of the love shown by nurses like Tom. "I knew she was safe and in good hands."
A few days later, I walked by a treatment room and Tom was crouched down next to a young child, showing him stickers and cracking jokes about cartoons to help take his mind off of the blood draws and medications he was getting. Tom's compassionate care exemplifies the kind of nurse our patients, their families, and we as KP staff recognize as an outstanding role model.
***
I can honestly say this is overdue. I have watched Tom since my start here 3 years ago. He has an innate ability to build rapport with patients. What motivated me to write this today was his interaction with a young girl who had a vascular lesion on the face. We watched Tom interact with the child by inflating a blue nitrile glove creating a tether with Coban, having the child laughing and playing during this stressful time, all while wearing his brightly colored Hawaiian shirt. This brought joy not only to me but the entire physician group working that day. This is really the joy in medicine we are all after. As we stood from the nursing station watching with all the doctors gathered around the comments were "he is my favorite nurse", "he does so well with kids and psych patients," and another said this should be a Thrive commercial. Tom spends his free time entertaining people with his antics as a clown. He is an extremely competent nurse, has a huge heart, and genuinely cares for his patients, although he won't admit it. He really deserves to be recognized for his contributions to the nursing practice.