Even something as simple as being clean-shaven can mean so much.
John Diller, MS, BSN, ASN, a nurse at Elkhart General Hospital, recalls a special patient who had been clean-shaven most of his life. This patient was being treated for end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) when John met him.
COPD is a serious disease that makes it very difficult to breathe. This patient had reached a point where even the task of shaving left him short of breath.
“I took the time to shave him whenever I could, and during these times got to know him and his family,” said John.
But as the disease progressed, the patient had to wear a mask that covered much of his face. Removing the mask long enough for a shave would lead to his oxygen dropping to dangerous levels. Eventually the patient transitioned to end-of-life care, and John gave him one last shave before he passed from this world.
“I continue to find that such simple actions make all the difference when it comes to forming connections and providing quality patient care,” said John.
John’s nursing journey
Originally John didn’t expect to become a nurse. But when he found himself competing against his then-girlfriend (now wife) for biology jobs, he decide to pursue nursing.
John earned his associate’s degree in nursing and knew he’d want to pursue a bachelor’s degree later. The time was right after he began working at Elkhart General Hospital, and he was able to secure a scholarship through Beacon Health.
Today he has his Bachelor of Science in nursing, and the profession has proven to be a great fit for him.
“I really enjoy the people interactions, whether with patients or my own coworkers and the rest of the healthcare team,” John said.
Why are nursing scholarships so important?
Supporting nurses has long been part of our story. But it’s even more important during a nursing shortage. Elkhart General Hospital expects to need at least 300 new nurses in the next five years. The shortage means that it’s more difficult to attract great nurses to our hospitals and entice them to stay.
Providing scholarships to our nursing staff is a win-win. Our nurses are better able to meet their personal goals, and our patients receive outstanding care from these highly trained, compassionate professionals.
That’s why the newly funded Elkhart General Hospital Nursing Education Endowment is a huge step forward in helping us ensure we’re attracting – and keeping — great nurses to care for our patients. We’re so grateful for the generous donations that enabled us to meet our goal of fully funding this endowment.
You can help us continue empowering caring nurses like John!
