Previously we had a comfort care patient who had been on our unit for a few days already getting worse with each shift but for some reason could not cross over. Carrie went to her remaining patients and got them settled then came to the nursing station to let us know she would be in the comfort care patient's room for a while if we needed her. She was gone for at least an hour and a half or so and when she came out we asked what she was doing. She decided to give him a really good bed bath and linen change. She bathed him, applied lotion, turned him and gave him the love and care a family member would give.
Now this may sound appropriate for any staff member to do but she made this an immediate priority, she did not rush one second, by herself and did this during the busiest part of the shift. Within 45 minutes of her doing all this, the patient passed on comfortably and peacefully. We were amazed. She sat with his loved ones as they expressed their sorrow but were grateful for her gentle care and love. They could see their family member was slowly declining over the past few days and suffering through the final stage of life, she was able to give him peace and the family closure.
Carrie is always the strongest nurse when it comes to standing up for her patients and the kindest nurse at the bedside. Her experience is something the staff looks up to and her caring heart is something the other staff members aspire to be. Always full of optimism even when the floor is heavy and burn out is everywhere, she keeps the floor going and reminds us all why we got into health care. She is a very hands-on nurse, never backs down from lending a helping hand, she is nurse you'll see sitting at a patient's bedside patiently listening to them reflect on life. During the Holiday season she is the nurse to come to shared governance to figure out ways to make the patients stuck in hospital have a brighter holiday. On the floor her nickname is Carrie Poppins or Care Bear and we think it fits her perfectly.