Patient thrilled with haircut

Surgical nurse, Erin Nicely, was getting a gentleman ready for cataract surgery as a normal part of her day in the Ambulatory Care Unit at Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital. The gentleman mentioned that he is a resident of a local in-patient care facility and that he had not had a hair cut since the Covid crises started many months ago. He explained that the facility would not allow anyone to come in to cut the residents' hair or do any of the other personal care tasks that they so much enjoyed. He stated that he had been to CSJH two weeks prior to have his other eye cataract removed and had been in quarantine at the facility since then and had not even had his hair washed during that time.  He joked about his "long hair", but it was obvious that he was distressed over it. Erin talked to him about it and asked him if he would like for her to cut his hair after his surgery was complete. He readily agreed. She joked with him that she wanted to ask him before he was influenced by anesthesia so she could be sure he really wanted her to do it.

After his successful cataract surgery and recovery, Erin took him in the bathroom, washed his hair and gave him a good trim. He was thrilled with his new haircut. He told her that he really thought she was just kidding about cutting his hair, but he couldn't be happier that she had really done it. He joked that after his friends at the facility saw him, they would all be signing up for cataract surgery so they could get a hair cut on the side!

Erin is always wonderful with her patients, but this shows the compassion that she really feels for them.