Randy* was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder, hypermanic and agitated. Sadly, his government-issued ID had been lost somewhere between Randy being picked up by police and his admission to our unit. Randy could not get his prescriptions or disability check nor pay his rent without his ID card.
He started shouting, “Who's my nurse?” right after the shift started. I took a deep breath, walked up to Randy, and told him I was his nurse. He moved close to my face and started yelling about his lost ID. I stepped back and told Randy I would investigate after I finished my patient rounds. But after five minutes of him following me around, hollering, I decided Randy needed me to be present with him. We try to give patients boundaries, but this situation was escalating. I stopped, asked Randy to sit with me, and focused on my patient.
Randy talked brashly, cursed, and waved his arms as he told me his story. He was furious about being admitted and livid about the lost ID card. I offered soothing words and reassurance. I also explained he could not keep walking around yelling at everyone. I promised I would check into the lost ID as soon as I finished my rounds.
His agitation continued to escalate, so I checked his prn medications for an antianxiety agent. I brought the medication and asked him to take the pill, telling him it would help him relax, but not make him sleep. He refused. I said, “Randy, you can't keep walking around yelling. How can I help you calm down as I look for your ID card?”
To my surprise, he bellowed, “Do you think God knows where my ID is? Nobody else does. Maybe we should ask God to find it!” I wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic, so I flashed a prayer for wisdom.
“Would you like me to pray and ask God?” I asked. Randy shouted, “YES! Right now!” I softly prayed, “God, we need your help. Please show Randy that you care about him. Please help fix this situation.” As I prayed, a part of me thought, I'll contact social work and ask them to work a new ID card. Another part of me asked God to restore the ID, but I didn't believe the card would be found. I prayed silently, Okay, God, show me know how to help Randy.
I told Randy I would check back with him in 20 minutes. He angrily replied, “Ask that security guard. He took it from me!” The security guard standing at the nurses' station heard Randy. He rolled his eyes and said they’d been looking for the ID card all day and he was not going to look any more. I timidly asked, “Well, could you look in the patient safe (where valuables were stored) one more time? Take your time, and I'll tell Randy you're looking.” I had to coax the guard; he said he would “try to remember to check the safe” when he was in the security office. I figured he wouldn't look, and I'd have to come up with another plan of action with Randy.
Fifteen minutes later (I looked at my watch!), the guard returned, waving Randy's ID card. Astonished, I asked, “Where on earth did you find it?” “I wasn't even looking,” he said. “But as I was going through another patient's valuables envelope, there it was was.” I grabbed the card and waved it in the air as I ran toward Randy.
Before I could speak, he grabbed my shoulders, hugged me, and cried. I sensed Jesus saying, “Do not worry about your life.... Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air... Are you not much more valuable than they? ...“O you of little faith....” and “Ask and it will be given you...” (Matthew 6:25-34, 7:7-8, NIV). I rejoiced as I realized God answered our prayer.
“Nurse, do you think God loves somebody like me?” Randy asked. I grinned, “Yep! I sure do!” Later, Randy and I had a good one-on-one session, educating him about his medications and planning for his discharge. Encouraged by what he called “God's little miracle,” he asked if I knew a church “that accepts people like me.” I wrote down the address and phone number for a downtown church that offered meals, Bible studies, and served people with mental health issues.
I don't know if the ID card showed up miraculously in the other envelope or if it had been there all the time and was missed. I don't know if Randy went to the church or what happened to him. I do know God showed his sweet, tender care for Randy and for me. I'm asking God to help me trust him more.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
Excerpted from original publication:
Simon, E. B., Hodges, R., & Schoonover-Shoffner, K. (2020). Experiencing God in nursing. Journal of Christian Nursing, 37(2), 94-99. https://doi.org/10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000637
Kathy Schoonover-Shoffner, PhD, RN, is NCF’s National Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Christian Nursing. She also is a delighted owner of one of NCF’s new Jesus Works Through Nurses T-shirts.
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