Catrina is an Extraordinary Nurse at Antelope Valley Hospital. I was responding to a rapid response call on her patient's declining status first thing in the morning. She had cared for her 89-year-old patient the day before and developed a wonderful relationship with him. She talked to him about his life including his family, beautiful wife, God and religious beliefs, pets, and great moments. He told her that he had "such a fulfilling life and would be just fine if he were to pass away tomorrow". When she came in the next day, he was obtunded and not talking. She worked diligently, contacting all his physicians including the trauma surgeon, anesthesiologist, and hospitalist as well as paging a rapid response to ensure the patient was tended to. She contacted the patient's wife and family regarding the patient's declining status and told them to come in to be with him. While in the hospital this patient was listed to have a full code status, but she knew his wishes were not so, based on the conversation she had with him the previous day. She contacted Kaiser to look up if he had a POLST, which he did. His POLST stated he was a limited code status, so she updated the hospital's information and worked with the patient's family to ensure all his wishes were met. She sat at the bedside with the patient for the majority of her shift or had a nurse tech sit with him so he would never be alone. If she had not worked so hard this patient would have been intubated and transferred to the ICU, which was against his wishes. Throughout the whole process, Catrina maintained a calm and loving environment for her patient and his family.
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Catrina, you are the nicest person/nurse I have ever met, your compassion, kindness should be recognized. You put so much light in my recovery. I want you to receive the highest honor, reward, and acknowledgment. Your courage is the ability to rise above all, you never rushed through each and every task that needed to be done. You answered every question I and my family had with a smile. Thank you for helping to facilitate getting the equipment needed, pain medication that was needed when it was denied, calling doctors when no one would listen or help. You searched every pharmacy in the Antelope Valley to ensure they had the pain medication and the quantity that was needed to help control my pain. You are awesome! Your compassion and caring attitude went beyond the bedside care you not only cared for me as the patient, but you cared for my entire family. We thank you for your extraordinary care, your dedication, and effortless kindness. We pray our paths cross again- thank you with all our hearts.