I am the manager of the 3N - oncology unit. In October my best friend, D, was diagnosed with cancer which resulted in multiple admissions to my unit. I was very careful to leave D's room whenever the staff needed to provide care for her; I knew it was important for the staff to get to know D as their patient and not just my friend. Both D and my team also needed to know I have the utmost confidence in them and their skills, talents and ability to care for patients, especially my friend, without me standing over them.
Each staff member cared for her in one way or another during her 6 month journey before she elected to go home with hospice. Because of the complications and side-effects of treatment the team got to know D quite well for who she was as a person with preferences and not just a patient and a number. Without any prompting whatsoever, the staff did their best to welcome her each admission with her favorites (chocolate Glucerna on ice, a straw in her hot tea every morning, mac and cheese just to get her to eat, etc.).
D felt safe being here with the staff, secure that they were able to manage her disease, complications, side-effects and medications with ease. She knew they had other patients but never felt like they were too busy for her. When D was feeling anxious, her fears were eased by the calm, reassuring, caring voices she had come to know so well. D had pain but wasn't one to tell you unless you asked and the staff knew this; consequently they routinely asked and offered pain management interventions. Weakness and fatigue plagued D each admission; dehydration and nausea were not new to her; diarrhea and infection often left her feeling helpless yet through it all the staff treated her with dignity and respect, were encouraging and extremely understanding, provided excellent care, were gentle and took the time she needed, they were responsible and earned her trust in them.
Now I'm sure most of this sounds like how all nurses and staff should be all the time since it is our BayCare values and standards but it really is more than that. With each and every interaction, no matter how brief, D was treated with kindness and love. The passion for their "job" as oncology nurses/staff was always evident; the empathy shown and compassion for patients and their families flowed from their very essence. These people don't have a "job" they have answered a calling.
The story doesn't end here. Once D elected to go home with hospice I took off work to care for her. Daily I received texts and/or calls asking how D was doing and each of them reassured me not to worry about work, "we got your back on this one boss" was a comment I heard frequently. After nearly 5 weeks I was running out of PTOs. My staff volunteered to come to the house to help care for D so I could get in a few hours each week. In total there were 12 team members who blessed D with their love and care at home and she received the same level of care at home that she received in the hospital. On one occasion the team of 4 that came took it upon themselves to get her out of bed, into a wheelchair and outside on her deck in the sun, a wish of hers. That was the last time she was outside and it was one of her last "good" days. Each team member that came bathed her, helped her eat if she was willing, medicated her as needed and loved her unconditionally; they also cleaned /straightened up the house and fixed food so I didn't have to worry about that. Each team member played a part, those that were able to come to the house and those who stayed to work so the others could come; this was a true team effort.
As D's time grew closer, I had a team member come and spend the night so I wouldn't have to be alone when she passed that night and when D did pass; this same team member arrived to help take care of D so I didn't have to be involved in post-mortem care. We didn't have an official service but 6 team members blessed me with their love and support at the cemetery.
I've been back to work 4 days now and every single team member has given bear hugs, shared kind encouraging words, reassuring me it will get better with time, that's it's okay to cry, that they are here for me and I'll be alright. I couldn't have given D so much if I didn't have the love, support, steadfastness, commitment and dedication of an awesome team. I know my days ahead will be filled with heartache and there will be moments of tears but I also know I have the best team possible for seeing me through this.
As you can see the overwhelming theme for this team is empathy, compassion, love and support; we ARE a family and we treat all of their patients as family.
In the Photo above:
In front of Pat Donnelly is Charity Gressner, RN; Jim Clyatt RN, MaryEllen Porter RN, Rene'e Rosato RN, Louisa Light LPN. Next to Louisa behind her shoulder is Diana Ortiz, RN, Luz Endangan RN, behind Luz, hard to see is Hillary Leavitt PST, Tara Bremer PST with hand on Luz's shoulder.
Nurses in the Adult Oncology Unit:
MaryEllen Porter,Andrea Ayers,Caren Alexander,Charity Gressner,Claudia Quinones,Corrine Gomez,Danielle Hamilton,Diana Modesto,Diana Ortiz,Gail Leverett-Spitzer,Iliana Quintero,James Clyatt,Jane Trosper,Jill Rodriguez,Joel Wood,Leina Perez,Louise Light,Luz Endangan,Maria Cano,Meagan Pilawski,Melissa Baird,Melissa Lopez,Monica Hewetson,Renee Rosato,Sache Kennerly,Shari Levitats,Vilna Yuvienco