Miracles in Motion: Listening to the little details
The difference a Food and Nutrition assistant makes in her patients’ experience through her attentive care.
When Quetia “Tia” Revolte, a Food and Nutrition Services assistant, was invited to throw the first pitch at the Gator baseball game on April 19, she was in disbelief that she was selected. Her department said that she is one of its hardest workers, and after reading how closely Revolte cares for her patients, it is easy to understand the choice.
Revolte helps to sanitize and clean to prevent cross-contamination while preparing food. She also helps to deliver food to patient rooms and ensures each patient receives the correct meal that aligns with his or her diet.
“If the patient has good food to eat, then they get better,” she said. “It’s not just, you know, whatever the doctor is doing, but also, it’s nourishment for their soul.”
The highlight of her day: interacting with her patients.
One of the assistant’s fondest exchanges was with a patient with who she was assigned to continually deliver her breakfast, lunch and dinner. When Revolte first arrived, she recognized that the patient was agitated. Despite having other tasks to still complete, she felt that the patient needed someone to simply listen, so Revolte asked her if she wanted to share anything that was going on. After the patient finished, the patient thanked the food and nutrition services assistant profusely for taking the time to concentrate on her demeanor. Revolte and the patient continued to converse after each meal she would bring her.
“It was so sweet because I was just like, sometimes when people come to the hospital, it’s not like they want to be there. And, and a lot of times, a little kindness or even just listening to them goes a long way,” she said. “The next couple of days whenever I went in her room, she was so happy and not as agitated as when I first met her.”
Another time, Revolte was saddened to see one of her patients struggle to eat the meals she brought him. Thus, she went out of her way to locate a bone broth that he could drink instead. When he realized what Revolte had done for him, he was elated to see how much she truly cared.
Revolte’s deep compassion for her patients is a part of her everyday routine, a quality her parents instilled in her from a young age. The assistant prioritizes the unique needs of every individual she encounters because she would want someone to treat her parents the same way if they were in a hospital.
“They’ve always taught me growing up that no matter the social class, no matter who you meet, you need to treat everyone with the utmost respect,” she said. “When you are working, make sure that you do your best.”
Revolte is currently studying to be recertified. She is grateful for the opportunity to throw the first pitch to raise awareness of the vital role health care professionals play and the prevailing need for more workers.
Miracles in Motion tells the inspiring stories of our pediatric patient families, clinicians and staff members in their everyday lives. These moments that occur inside the walls of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital are what make this incredible hospital such a special place to the patients and families treated here each year. Follow along with the Miracles In Motion tag to learn more about these stories and how Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals makes even the most ordinary moments extraordinary.
This article was written by Hope J. Hathcock and originally appeared on UF Health Bridge.