Las Vegas nurse pampers patients on days off

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – A Las Vegas emergency room nurse goes above and beyond her duty.

Brooke Johns has been a nurse for two and a half years. She sees people at their worst – in the hospital, uncomfortable and often too tired to care about their own looks.

Johns comes to Southern Hills Hospital on her days off to brush and braid the hair of any patient who wants it. She says her kindness goes well beyond vanity and believes that the human connection can aid in healing.

“There is also something therapeutic about human touch. Human speaking, human touch, it’s this connection that we’re all hardwired to, ”Johns said.

Johns started pampering her patients five months ago when a friend was battling an illness in the hospital.

“Her hair was very tousled, she was too weak to brush it out herself, and it was something she was very worried about. When I was up there I could brush and braid her hair and just talk to her, “Johns said. “She was a different person when I left this room.”

She recently visited Sierra Stein during a surprise meeting. Johns previously looked after Stein in an emergency room and encouraged her to get extra care.

“She took me to the hospital and got the care and treatment I need,” Stein said.

Stein says the care that Johns provides comforts you in an uncertain time.

“COVID is going on and there is a lot of isolation. You can’t have visitors or someone to come along or hold your hand and having someone just to braid your hair makes you feel at home again, “added Stein.

Other nurses help braid patients’ hair and prove that kindness is contagious.

“Nurses generally intervene to help other people,” said Johns.

And Johns says she doesn’t want to stop there. As soon as the visit restrictions are lifted, she plans to visit patients at Sunrise Children’s Hospital who have dressed up as Elsa from “Frozen”.

This story was originally published by Kelsey McFarland on KTNV.