Amazing Grace

“Code red! Code red!” was the sound heard over the loud speaker. Upon hearing those words, nurses and doctors in the ER department started to assemble toward the emergency room entrance. Of those nurses, one was named Grace, a newly graduated nursing student who had received her RN license a month prior.

As the paramedics rushed in with the stretchers, all you could see was blood and bruises on the patients. According to paramedics, there had been a fatal car accident on Highway 6 involving four car loads of people. Two had already been reported D.O.A., and nine were in critical condition.

Knowing the severity of the situation, Grace started to doubt herself.  This was the first time she had encountered such an event, and was scared that she may not be able to carry out the tasks she learned through nursing school, she thought.

Everyone in the room had gotten silent for a second, as the doctor started calling out orders. Grace’s job was to administer fluids to the patients and monitor their vital signs. She did so continuously until the patients’ were stable and given optimal care.

When the final reports came back saying that the patients were going to make it Grace was overly joyous. At that moment she realized how much it meant to help others. As she checked on the patients one last time before her shift ended, she couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she had given up on them due to her lack of confidence in her nursing skills?