It’s been 10 years since Christy Dempsey, DNP, MBA, RN, CNOR, CENP, FAAN, nominated the nurse who cared for her son-in-law, Aaron, for a DAISY Award®. Aaron had been shot in the line of duty and had slim chances of surviving.
Today, that nurse, Kylie Powers, and Christy are still in touch and have formed a lifelong bond.
Inarguably, Christy knows what extraordinary care entails. Not only is she an RN with decades of experience and the author of The Antidote to Suffering, but she has also been on the receiving side of care both as a breast cancer survivor and a distraught family member whose loved one was in critical condition with a poor prognosis.
What nursing compassion looks like
What made Kylie stand out? How did such a strong connection form?
At our last breakfast event at the American Organization for Nurse Leaders (AONL) conference, our CEO, Deb Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, had the honor of facilitating this conversation.
Christy mentioned Kylie’s consistent communication, attention to detail, and treatment of Aaron, his immediate family, and extended family, which included many members of the police force, as one of her own.
“She cried with us, prayed with us, and showed up,” Christy said. These interactions built tremendous trust, which fostered a sense of safety and comfort.
Kylie, in turn, stated that she immediately felt supported and respected, and that the family’s unwavering hope created a special care environment.
The full-circle impact of care beyond the bedside
Aaron went on to receive intensive rehabilitation care out of state, and upon his return, Christy invited Kylie over to her house to see his progression. It was a full-circle moment to see a patient who was fighting for their life walk through the door and regain a large portion of their life back. She marveled at the nursing profession’s work of being able to bring people home, to allow them to live their lives again.
Kylie was filled with an immense sense of gratitude that Christy and her family and, as she found out, five other families of different patients had taken the time to submit heartfelt feedback in the form of a DAISY Award nomination during such a challenging time.
Modeling nursing compassion and connection
For various reasons, Kylie needed to pause her nursing career, but ultimately, the pull of the profession brought her back. Today, she is a flight nurse and a nurse leader and advocates strongly for leaders to support their teams and “fill their cup” in addition to uplifting patients and families. She believes that one of the greatest gifts you can give as a leader is your time. Using that time to recognize, connect, and thank the team, but also to provide specific and constructive feedback.
Both Christy and Kylie agreed that leaders need to model the way to create a thriving, connected, collaborative environment.
A testament to the nursing profession’s enduring influence
You might be wondering how Aaron is doing today. The man who shot him was sentenced to life in prison, plus 115 years. The jury found the defendant guilty of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and two other felonies following a three-day trial. Aaron made an impressive recovery and is now able to walk, talk, run, and lift weights, although he does still suffer some effects from the shooting, including seizures and struggles with his speech.
Though it might be months in between emails, texts, or phone calls, Christy and Kylie pick right back up from when they last communicated. They share a miraculous experience that happily ties them together forever. This is a powerful testament to the nursing profession.
