EMMC’s mission is to care for patients, families, communities, and one another. This last reference reminds us of our commitment to co-workers, which takes different forms in different situations. When a fellow employee is ill, we may send cards and wish them to be well, but Tina Gist, RN, department head in the NICU, took her commitment and compassion a giant step further.
A friend and co-worker in the NICU had been battling breast cancer for a long time, and her outlook was not good. Tina was a huge support to this co-worker and her family, staying with them for hours and even days. The family was greatly comforted by Tina’s presence – just having her nearby helped them feel stronger in the face of their sorrow. There were days Tina would go home just long enough to say hello to her family and shower. She would then return to her friend’s bedside. Tina’s friend slowly lost her battle. Tina unselfishly offered her time and strength, while she sacrificed her personal affairs to be with this friend and her family in their time of need.
Because of her caring compassion for someone in need and her actions above and beyond, Tina’s coworkers nominated her for a Splash Award, EMMC’s highest honor for employee service.