December 2011
Diane
Ridenour
,
RN
MSICU
St. Joseph Medical Center
Towson
,
MD
United States

 

 

 

Diane's nomination came from a letter written by a patient's family member. Here is what she had to say about Diane.

I don't know where to begin about this woman. She received my mom the night she came out of surgery. The second night she was there, my mom became very disoriented and pulled out her central line and two IV's. My mom was very upset and didn't realize that she was in a hospital and had no idea what had happened to her. She kept yelling for me and asking Diane why she was keeping me from her. Diane called me at 1:30 AM and explained that she truly felt that my mom would be able to calm down if she could see and talk to me.

When I arrived, Diane was sitting at my mom's bedside, holding her hand. She had explained to my mom that I was on my way and promised to stay with her until I arrived. She took my mom from being upset and combative to calm and cooperative, simply by staying with her, holding her hand and reassuring her that I would be there soon.

When I got there, she hugged my mom, gave her a kiss and stroked her face in a way I've never seen any other nurse care for their patient. It made me cry and gave me the most overwhelming sense of peace and comfort knowing my mom was being cared for, and cared about, this way.