August 2025
Hannah
Leifson
,
RN
Critical Care
Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center
Reno
,
NV
United States
It was incredibly kind and heartwarming of Hannah to take a few extra moments out of her busy day to paint the nails of a patient who had undergone a tracheostomy.
It was incredibly kind and heartwarming of Hannah to take a few extra moments out of her busy day to paint the nails of a patient who had undergone a tracheostomy. Hannah had brought the nail polish and clippers in from home. Hannah did not even have the patient assigned to her that day. This simple, thoughtful gesture went far beyond medical care—it brought a sense of normalcy, dignity, and joy to the patient's afternoon. The bright polish on her nails seemed to light up her whole demeanor, and for a while, the hospital room felt less clinical and more like a space filled with compassion and connection. That small act of kindness made a significant difference, lifting the patient’s spirits and reminding her that she was cared for not just physically, but emotionally as well. This was the first afternoon the patient had smiled and laughed in the two months she had been in and out of the ICU. The patient decided to go on comfort care two days later. Hannah took great care of the patient in her final moments. Making the patient as comfortable as possible.