When you meet Crystal Takoudjou, an Oncology Nurse at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center

, you quickly realize that her superpower isn’t just in her clinical skills—it’s in her soul.

Takoudjou’s superhero name would be The Empathizer, and once you hear her story, you’ll understand why. “My superpowers are empathy and compassion,” she says. “I consider all my patients family. Everyone is someone’s everything.”

Takoudjou has only officially worn the title of nurse for about a year, but her life has been building to it for much longer. “Nursing has always been my passion,” she shares. “But I believe things don’t always happen when you want them, but when you need them. Being a patient, wife, and family member prepared me for being the nurse I am today.”

The Power of Presence

The emotional heart of nursing is something few see—but Takoudjou lives it every day. “The emotional toll… we are exposed to illness, suffering, and loss. We are truly the frontline,” she says.

One moment that captured the true power of her calling? She recalls being called to the bedside of a patient she’d cared for over multiple shifts—a patient whose greatest fear was dying alone.

“I called his name and let him know I was there. With one hand, I gently rubbed his head; with the other, I held his hand and assured him everything was okay. I let him know it had been an honor to be his nurse,” Takoudjou says. Moments later, he passed peacefully. A colleague asked if she’d given him permission to die. Takoudjou’s reply was simple: “No, I assured him he wasn’t alone.”

The Small Things Are the Big Things

Takoudjou’s power doesn’t always roar—it often whispers through the little things, like when she ordered a special delivery of Diet Coke for a patient who couldn’t stomach anything else. “He was genuinely excited and deeply appreciative,” she recalls.

Or the mindset she carries like armor into every shift: positivity, encouragement, and treating every patient like family. “Our patients are sick, sad, or scared. A positive attitude makes a difference.”

Inside Takoudjou’s Power Kit

Every hero needs a toolkit. Takoudjou’s essentials before every shift? A guidance prayer, scissors, and her trusty stethoscope.

Her unofficial super skill? Jedi-level positivity. And her soundtrack for tough days? The soul-soothing classic, Paul Jones: I Won’t Complain.

Even off the clock, the nurse instincts don’t fade. “I confirm what I heard; I repeat what was said to me,” she laughs—a nurse through and through.

Fueling the Future

For Takoudjou, the power of nurses is foundational: “We are the mitochondria of healthcare.” Multi-skilled, compassionate, influential—nurses are the energy behind the entire system.

When asked what message she would send to every nurse right now, her answer is beautifully simple: “You’re appreciated!”

Her recipe for recharging after a long shift? A glass of wine, some good music, and talking things through with her husband—who, fittingly, is also a nurse.

And her hope for the future of nursing? Takoudjou’s story says it all: more empathy, more humanity, and a steadfast commitment to being there for every patient—no matter what.

This Nurses Week, let’s honor the incredible power of nurses! Springer Publishing is celebrating by offering 20% off your purchase—and giving back, with 5% donated to the American Nurses Foundation to support nurses nationwide. Join us in making a difference.

The post You’re Not Alone: How Nurse Crystal Takoudjou Brings Comfort When It Matters Most first appeared on Daily Nurse.