A Student’s Simple Act That Made a Big Difference

In healthcare settings, recognition for nurses often comes from high-stakes, life-saving moments.

But sometimes, the most meaningful care is much simpler.

When a patient at Chippenham Hospital, an HCA Healthcare facility, recognized Galen College of Nursing – Richmond campus student Christina Davis for simply untangling her hair and putting it in a ponytail, it stood out. Not because it was complex or clinical, but because it was deeply human.

It was a reminder that connection, dignity, and compassionate care are just as critical as clinical skill.

Like some Galen students, Davis found her way to nursing later in life. After high school, she built a career in sales while also becoming a licensed cosmetologist, where she honed her hairstyling skills.

Losing her sales job during the COVID-19 pandemic gave her the opportunity to pursue a new path with purpose. She began working as a nurse extern and patient care technician at Johnston-Willis Hospital in Richmond, Va. where she has continued working full-time for the past four years.

“Honestly, if it weren’t for my experience working in a hospital as a PCT, I don’t know that I would be able to take that step back and realize the bigger picture,” Davis said. “So that has been a huge help to me.”

Today, she draws on both her past experience and her clinical training to care for patients. The communication, resilience, and problem-solving skills she developed in her first career now help her navigate fast-paced healthcare environments and connect with patients on a personal level.

During a clinical rotation in a medical trauma unit at Chippenham Hospital, Davis assisted nurses in caring for patients.

In one room, a patient expressed sadness that after an extended stay, she might have to cut her hair, which had become severely matted and tangled.

That’s where Davis stepped in.

“I told her, ‘If you don’t mind, I’d love to try to help,’” she said. “We took a few sessions that morning and worked through it, and we were able to get it all straightened out and put it in a ponytail.”

For the patient, the impact went far beyond appearance. She later shared that Davis had helped her “leave looking like a human.”

The moment left a lasting impression and led to Davis receiving the Flower Bud Award from Chippenham Hospital in March 2026. It also served as a powerful reminder that compassionate care and human connection are just as important as clinical knowledge.

“We talk every day with our staff about treating the human, not the diagnosis, and making personal connections with patients and their families,” said Katie Elliott, MSN, RN, Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Chippenham Hospital. “Christina exemplified this by treating the patient as a human and listening to what was important to her. After 20-plus years in nursing, I have found that sometimes it’s the small, dignifying things that make the biggest difference.”

For Davis, the journey through Galen has been as demanding as it has been meaningful. On track to graduate with her associate degree in nursing (ADN) in June 2026, she credits her success to her cohort, a group of fellow parents, adult learners, and younger students navigating the same path.

“We’ve really helped each other through this program,” she said. “We study together, vent together, encourage each other, and keep each other grounded when things get overwhelming.”

Her classmates often joke that she’s the “mom” of the group, not only because she has children of her own, but because of the care and support she brings to every interaction.

“I love loving on people, doing little acts of kindness, and making people feel supported.”

It’s that same instinct—showing up for others in small but meaningful ways—that carries into her patient care.

Because sometimes, the smallest acts of care make the biggest difference.

If you are inspired by Christina Davis’ story and are also interested in a career filled with moments of compassionate care, Galen College of Nursing can help get you there.

Galen has more than 25 campuses across the United States, stretching from the Carolinas on the East Coast to Las Vegas, Nevada in the west. Galen also offers four start times throughout the year for our pre-licensure nursing programs, such as our practical nursing/vocational nursing diploma, our associate degree in nursing (ADN), our ADN bridge degree, and our three-year bachelors of science in nursing degree. Get started today with Galen!