Annmarie Mahoney
April 2024
Annmarie
Mahoney
,
BSN, RN, BMT-CN
Medical Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Park Ridge
,
IL
United States
Annmarie was with the family during this entire time, and they were extremely appreciative of her support and kindness.
Annmarie had a very sick patient with a bad heart. This patient's hospitalization was sudden and traumatic for not only the patient but his family as well. Annmarie cared for this patient two days in a row and made such a huge impact on the patient and his family. She was supportive, positive, energetic, caring, and attentive.
The patient, unfortunately, took a turn for the worse on the morning of day 2 and needed to be emergently intubated and then had a cardiac arrest episode. After the patient got his heart rate back, he had to go for a high-risk procedure in the cardiac cath lab. During this time, the patient's three sons and wife were at the hospital and having a hard time grieving with this acute change in his health. The doctors told the family that they didn't think the patient would make it much further because of how weak his heart was. The family decided to make the patient comfortable and come off all his supportive measures.
Annmarie was with the family during this entire time, and they were extremely appreciative of her support and kindness. The patient's son said to her, "You made my dad laugh multiple times yesterday, and my dad never laughs. Thank you for everything. If there is anything I could do to repay you for what you've done for my family and me, please let me know." Shortly after the family left, the patient's sister started to walk towards the room. Annmarie stopped her and asked if she was family. She said, "Yes, I am his sister." Annmarie asked if she talked to the other family yet, which she said she had not. Annmarie then sat with the sister and told her that her brother had passed. She comforted the sister and brought her into the patient's room to spend some time with him. She also made sure that the patient had called someone to drive her home because she was dropped off by public transportation. The sister called her kids to come pick her up. While the sister waited for her kids, Annmarie offered chaplain services to her, which she denied at the time, but then Annmarie helped walk her down to the chapel. The amount of time, compassion, and true kindness Annmarie gave this patient and family is absolutely heartwarming. This is what it means to not only be a nurse, but an ICU nurse that has sick/dying patients and is that support system for patients and their families!
The patient, unfortunately, took a turn for the worse on the morning of day 2 and needed to be emergently intubated and then had a cardiac arrest episode. After the patient got his heart rate back, he had to go for a high-risk procedure in the cardiac cath lab. During this time, the patient's three sons and wife were at the hospital and having a hard time grieving with this acute change in his health. The doctors told the family that they didn't think the patient would make it much further because of how weak his heart was. The family decided to make the patient comfortable and come off all his supportive measures.
Annmarie was with the family during this entire time, and they were extremely appreciative of her support and kindness. The patient's son said to her, "You made my dad laugh multiple times yesterday, and my dad never laughs. Thank you for everything. If there is anything I could do to repay you for what you've done for my family and me, please let me know." Shortly after the family left, the patient's sister started to walk towards the room. Annmarie stopped her and asked if she was family. She said, "Yes, I am his sister." Annmarie asked if she talked to the other family yet, which she said she had not. Annmarie then sat with the sister and told her that her brother had passed. She comforted the sister and brought her into the patient's room to spend some time with him. She also made sure that the patient had called someone to drive her home because she was dropped off by public transportation. The sister called her kids to come pick her up. While the sister waited for her kids, Annmarie offered chaplain services to her, which she denied at the time, but then Annmarie helped walk her down to the chapel. The amount of time, compassion, and true kindness Annmarie gave this patient and family is absolutely heartwarming. This is what it means to not only be a nurse, but an ICU nurse that has sick/dying patients and is that support system for patients and their families!