Benjamin Offenberg
March 2021
Benjamin
Offenberg
,
RN
PICU
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
Palo Alto
,
CA
United States
I am moved and inspired by Ben's great act of compassion and humanity.
Last Saturday, I discharged my patient and jumped into the role of TL in the PICU on a busy evening. I went to help Ben as his assignment was a 2:1 the previous shift but due to the day shifts short staffing, he was on his own. The young child Ben cared for had been a patient in the PICU for months and was not doing well. Ben did the work of 2 nurses, but he was geographically distanced from the support of the PICU as the patient was roomed in a bed designated for the CVICU. I gowned up and entered the room and asked Ben how I could help. I scanned the room and saw 3 IV poles, CRRT, HiFlo oxygen, and sobs from this little one's older siblings filling every space of the room. Ben was amid a line change, multi-tasking, drawing labs, and giving medications. I asked him how I could help, and he replied, "I need two stethoscopes". My eyes scanned the usual places that they live in the room, and I saw one hanging right on the IV pole. I headed toward the supply closet to get 2 stethoscopes for Ben. I did not ask why, because in all my experiences working with Ben he is calculated, articulate, and always has a plan.
I helped with collecting labs and labeling IV tubing, all while holding back my own tears as this young family was engulfed in sadness and loss as their sweet child lay fighting for every breath. Ben asked this young girls' older siblings how old they were, what subjects they liked in school, and spoke to them like they were the only ones in the room. There were a million things to do in the last hour of his shift, meds to be given, meds to prioritize, drips to titrate, fluid balances to calculate, and he spent time to focus on her siblings. He did this all while executing each critical task effortlessly. I am moved and inspired by his great act of compassion and humanity. He gave them a chance to hear their little sisters heart. The next day she died surrounded by her family.
I helped with collecting labs and labeling IV tubing, all while holding back my own tears as this young family was engulfed in sadness and loss as their sweet child lay fighting for every breath. Ben asked this young girls' older siblings how old they were, what subjects they liked in school, and spoke to them like they were the only ones in the room. There were a million things to do in the last hour of his shift, meds to be given, meds to prioritize, drips to titrate, fluid balances to calculate, and he spent time to focus on her siblings. He did this all while executing each critical task effortlessly. I am moved and inspired by his great act of compassion and humanity. He gave them a chance to hear their little sisters heart. The next day she died surrounded by her family.