We have a young patient on the unit who has been hospitalized for some time. She is unable to speak due to her condition and has become very withdrawn. Megan used some of her time to try to engage this young patient, who was also experiencing quite a bit of pain.

Megan asked if she wanted to play cards. The patient agreed, and so they sat together and played a few rounds of UNO. We had not seen this patient smile this much since she arrived. This little gesture of kindness and outreach is what extraordinary nursing care looks like.