We have had the pleasure of taking care of a patient on unit 46 for over 365 days. This patient has had ups and downs and required emergency treatments, been confused and on his worst days, somewhat combative. The true character of this patient though is kindness and compassion. He is a husband, a dad, grandfather, and friend. As you can imagine, the entire unit has grown much attached to him and his family. He has stayed with us in our ICU for many reasons, among these financial and insurance-related. It has finally come to the point that the family will take him home after training of the multiple medical devices he needs to survive. We have spent the last 3 weeks training his family and working closely with many disciplines to ensure his safety once home. While engaging the family in his care we have used a piece of equipment multiple times a day called the "sara steady" for easy and safe transfer for his ADLs. This enables his wife to mobilize him on her own. However, this piece of equipment was considered more "a nice to have" item rather than medically necessary for insurance to cover it.
Brenda Ward is a charge nurse on unit 46. She has followed this 3-week long training and discharge process closely and brought up needed items that others have not considered. She approached me to ask if we could fundraise to secure enough money for the family to purchase a Lumex Stand Assist Transport Device (which she had researched on her own). We needed to raise $560.00 so that it could be purchased. She spearheaded this fundraising initiative and within 3 days we had secured the funds from many different disciplines that have had involvement in this patient's care. Gift cards were presented to the patient's wife so she could order the mobility device and have it shipped to their house. She was very emotional on the presentation of this kind gesture and you could see the relief in her face since she can perform a lot of his care on her own with this device. Although raising the money was a joint effort, Brenda's compassion for this patient and his family went above and beyond. To consider all angles to make it easier and safer for him at home shows true dedication to the art of nursing. Brenda exemplifies true compassion.