Beatrice Holmes
November 2022
Beatrice
Holmes
,
RN, ADN
Emergency Department
PIH Health Hospital - Whittier
Whittier
,
CA
United States

 

 

 

The grief from the family was intense. Be was patient, empathetic, and reassuring.
Be started her shift Saturday night as she usually does, in a most enthusiastic, "let's go get ‘em" approach. Be is always upbeat and positive in her patient approach. This night, Be had a very special patient. This patient came in with some serious problems. Her sister was with her at the time. Be of course developed a very good rapport with her patient and family member. Be explained all of the things which she had to do in caring for her patient. Unfortunately for the patient, the ED MD delivered devastating news. This patient had metastatic cancer, which was rather invasive and extensive. Be stayed in the room with the patient and her sister as they tried to absorb the news. There was a tremendous amount of sobbing, fear and sadness. Be was there for it all. Not only was Be comforting the patient and her sister, but she also answered a phone call from the patient's daughter. Once again Be gave the devastating information to the family on the phone. The grief from the family was intense. Be was patient, empathetic, and reassuring. The patient of course was admitted. Be was in and out of the room attending to the physical and emotional needs of the patient and her sister. As the ED Tech was wheeling out the gurney, I looked in the room...there was Be in her most dynamic and positive way, interacting with the patient and her family member. It was amazing to see the patient and her sister laughing and smiling, all because of Be. Be exemplified compassion, and commitment to the care of the patient and the family and truly made an enormous difference in this patient for that moment in time.