Four years in the United States Air Force taught Christian Bouillon lessons that he still leans on when providing care at Memorial Hospital Pembroke’s 24/7 Care Center.

“Emergency medical situations are like the military in that teamwork and being able to count on the person next to you are critically important,” said Bouillon, a nurse who also had a career as a paramedic. “If everyone gives more to the team than they take, a small number of people can accomplish big things and help manage situations that would be impossible to handle alone.”

Bouillon, a first-generation Haitian-American, understands coming to the ER means his patients are having a terrible day, so he uses humor to diffuse tense situations. That’s especially important with kids who may not fully understand what is happening to them. “Sometimes nurses have to catch the fastball and slow it down to make things less traumatic,” Bouillon said. “I just try to overwhelm them with kindness.”