August 2022
Kenzie
Rushing
,
RN
Surgery Department
Mercy Hospital Ardmore
Ardmore
,
OK
United States

 

 

 

Kenzie approached the patient with no judgment, pulled up a stool, and began to talk to the patient.
There was a patient in the ER over Thanksgiving. He was COVID + and experiencing complications from alcohol withdrawal. He was very upset to be away from his family on the holiday and scared because he had recently lost family members to COVID. He told Kenzie he had not been sober for over 15 years and it had really torn his family apart. Kenzie approached the patient with no judgment, pulled up a stool, and began to talk to the patient. She spoke with him about being the daughter of an addict and how, through Christ, her family was able to heal. He spoke to her in great detail about his addiction and she shared what it was like to be on the other side of it. He thanked her and told her he felt like God sent him to her during his weakest point. She prayed with him and ask God for strength, healing, and forgiveness for his and his family's lives.

Just before Christmas, the patient returned to the ED. He simply wanted to bring a Christmas card to the nurse who cared for him. He quietly dropped it off at the front desk. The Christmas card thanked the nurse for her grace and kindness. She had inspired him to get sober, take back his life, heal his relationship with his family and reconnect with God. Kenzie was working in the ER at the time and has now transferred to our Surgery Department.