Brianna Wagaman
July 2020
Brianna
Wagaman
,
RN
Open Heart ICU
WellSpan York Hospital
York
,
PA
United States
Brianna Wagaman has a servant's heart that does not compare to anyone else. To say that she goes above and beyond for her patients is a strong understatement. She goes above what "above and beyond" means because she extends love, compassion, and empathy to the family of her patients.
Recently, Bri came to our unit, Open Heart ICU, just as she would any other day, ready to give her all to her patients and family. This time, her patient's family was present, because his wife is one of our own. In healthcare, we are all one big dysfunctional family, but no one knows what we go through except each other.
This patient was on ECMO and only 33 years old. He had been to the cath lab, imaging, and the OR. Once he was on our unit, it was apparent that this gentleman would not survive, but Bri treated this man as if he had a chance. But that isn't just what makes Bri stand out. She took the time, between giving blood products, titrating 12 drips, drawing blood, changing blood dressings, replacing electrolytes, hyperkalemia protocol implementation, etc., Bri took the time to learn who the patient is.
I do not just mean his name, but I mean his character, his personality, his interests. She found out that he and his wife had only been married since October 2019, and that he too had a genuine and servant's heart. When his wife broke down and sat on the floor of the ICU waiting room, Bri sat down right next to her and held her on that floor. She had the patient's wife join her in bathing him. Bri also created a spot in the patient's bed for his wife to lay in, so she had one last time laying next to her husband.
Bri clocked out at 7:15 pm, but she remained on that unit to be with the patient's wife and family. The patient died at 8:21 pm, and she was there with him and his family until the end.
Bri was more than a nurse those two days. She spent 24 hours loving on people who weren't family or friends. But Bri does not differentiate that. She treats everyone like they are her friend or family. This case was no different. Bri needs to know what a bright light that she is to so many, including this particular patient and her family. Thank you, Bri, for always being light in the darkness, and loving on so many like you do. You're one in a million!
Recently, Bri came to our unit, Open Heart ICU, just as she would any other day, ready to give her all to her patients and family. This time, her patient's family was present, because his wife is one of our own. In healthcare, we are all one big dysfunctional family, but no one knows what we go through except each other.
This patient was on ECMO and only 33 years old. He had been to the cath lab, imaging, and the OR. Once he was on our unit, it was apparent that this gentleman would not survive, but Bri treated this man as if he had a chance. But that isn't just what makes Bri stand out. She took the time, between giving blood products, titrating 12 drips, drawing blood, changing blood dressings, replacing electrolytes, hyperkalemia protocol implementation, etc., Bri took the time to learn who the patient is.
I do not just mean his name, but I mean his character, his personality, his interests. She found out that he and his wife had only been married since October 2019, and that he too had a genuine and servant's heart. When his wife broke down and sat on the floor of the ICU waiting room, Bri sat down right next to her and held her on that floor. She had the patient's wife join her in bathing him. Bri also created a spot in the patient's bed for his wife to lay in, so she had one last time laying next to her husband.
Bri clocked out at 7:15 pm, but she remained on that unit to be with the patient's wife and family. The patient died at 8:21 pm, and she was there with him and his family until the end.
Bri was more than a nurse those two days. She spent 24 hours loving on people who weren't family or friends. But Bri does not differentiate that. She treats everyone like they are her friend or family. This case was no different. Bri needs to know what a bright light that she is to so many, including this particular patient and her family. Thank you, Bri, for always being light in the darkness, and loving on so many like you do. You're one in a million!