The first time I took care of Andrea, a twenty-one-year-old college student, she had been admitted to the pediatric emergency room (ER) with all her systems backfiring from various drug combinations. She had taken diet pills because she felt fat. Later that same morning, as part of a research study for a cold virus, she had been injected with a rhinovirus. Hours later she found out that her parents were divorcing. When sleep would not come, she took sleeping pills. The drug interactions put her in the ER. I talked with her a little, but she was fading in and out. When my shift was over, I felt sad that I hadn't shared the hope and love of Jesus with her.
The following week, Andrea came back to the pediatric ER with a panic attack. I went to see her, even though she wasn't my patient. She immediately started crying and said that everything in her life was falling apart. I told her that when I feel like everything is falling apart in my life, the only thing I can do is to give it all to God. I know that he is able to take care of everything. He has the perfect plan for my life. I asked if she knew about God and his love, but she couldn't stop crying. I did not get to pray with her, and I don't know her heart, but I think of her and pray that God used my words to work in her life. Nursing has a tremendous role in helping the hopeless-sometimes that is the reason why they become our patients.