December 2008
Becky
Walsh
,
RN, MN, CCRN
Clinical Nurse Leader
Virginia Mason
Seattle
,
WA
United States

 

 

 

Friday, 8/22/08 started out with a death in the CCU. Young man, Mother at the Inn. The mother was distrought and talking about harming herself. Becky went over to the Inn, spoke with the mother, stayed with her as needed and arrainged to meet her back in the ccu in 1 hour. Becky planned on going back over to the Inn if the mother did not show up. In between all of that, she contacted the Pt's wife to support her. That was not the end of her day, just the beginning. After supporting that family, we then had another family that had to make the hard decision to withdrawal on their mother/wife. Becky was involved in the conference and then supported the family during the withdrawal phase, including helping to arrainged for the funeral home to pick up the pt in the CCU instead of the morgue.
That was her morning! The afternoon found her helping us rush a pt back to the OR due to bleeding out of her surgical neck wound.
The end of her day was conferencing with a family discussing end of life and making a plan for the withdrawal of life support when family arrived on Saturday morning.
Becky's ability to go from family to family, supporting them however they need it, assisting in critical situation with the staff and keeping her calm, understanding manner is amazing. She is an integral member of our team and I know that our pt's and families are the better for it.