December 2017
Adonica
Racicot
,
BSN, RN, OCN
Milford Oncology
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston
,
MA
United States
Adonica Racicot surely deserves to be considered for the DAISY Award because she exemplifies what it means to be an extraordinary nurse and role model.
One of our young oncology patients came to the clinic urgently with intractable pain, nausea, and vomiting. While trying to help him through this crisis, Adonica pulled his longtime partner, aside to try and console her. She was extremely anxious and tearful because the patient wasdeclining rapidly, and the next step was to transition him to hospice. Both the patient and his partner were aware that there was little else that could be done but they were resistant to taking, what seemed to them to be, this final step.
Both Adonica and the social worker spent a while with his partner and one of her major concerns was that they hadn't been able to get married. It was something they wanted but were waiting for him to "get better". About two hours later when we finally had the patient comfortable, we were able to send him to the ED for admission, arrangements were being initiated to allow the patient and his partner to get married in the next couple of days.
The social worker and Adonica approached the patient the next morning when he was feeling much better and presented him with their proposal and to get his thoughts on it. The couple was thrilled this could be done and the patient proposed to his partner from his hospital bed.
The social worker in consultation with Adonica, was able to get an urgent marriage license with the waiting period waived, wedding bands donated, flowers donated, and a photographer free of charge. The social worker also collected donations from some staff members and convinced a local bakery to make a gluten-free cake overnight. She also was able to get a priest to preside over the ceremony.
The wedding took place the next day, two days after the patient initially came to the clinic in crisis. A few providers from the clinic were able to attend this heartwarming ceremony, along with a handful of family members, in the hospital's Tranquility Garden.
At a very difficult time in this young couple's life, Adonica was able to give them something to smile about, something to look forward to and be happy about.
Truly, Adonica went over and above to make this marriage happen, all the while, she continued to act as a charge nurse during a particularly difficult and busy time in the clinic.
One of our young oncology patients came to the clinic urgently with intractable pain, nausea, and vomiting. While trying to help him through this crisis, Adonica pulled his longtime partner, aside to try and console her. She was extremely anxious and tearful because the patient wasdeclining rapidly, and the next step was to transition him to hospice. Both the patient and his partner were aware that there was little else that could be done but they were resistant to taking, what seemed to them to be, this final step.
Both Adonica and the social worker spent a while with his partner and one of her major concerns was that they hadn't been able to get married. It was something they wanted but were waiting for him to "get better". About two hours later when we finally had the patient comfortable, we were able to send him to the ED for admission, arrangements were being initiated to allow the patient and his partner to get married in the next couple of days.
The social worker and Adonica approached the patient the next morning when he was feeling much better and presented him with their proposal and to get his thoughts on it. The couple was thrilled this could be done and the patient proposed to his partner from his hospital bed.
The social worker in consultation with Adonica, was able to get an urgent marriage license with the waiting period waived, wedding bands donated, flowers donated, and a photographer free of charge. The social worker also collected donations from some staff members and convinced a local bakery to make a gluten-free cake overnight. She also was able to get a priest to preside over the ceremony.
The wedding took place the next day, two days after the patient initially came to the clinic in crisis. A few providers from the clinic were able to attend this heartwarming ceremony, along with a handful of family members, in the hospital's Tranquility Garden.
At a very difficult time in this young couple's life, Adonica was able to give them something to smile about, something to look forward to and be happy about.
Truly, Adonica went over and above to make this marriage happen, all the while, she continued to act as a charge nurse during a particularly difficult and busy time in the clinic.