One patient’s wish was honored before leaving the hospital. This patient was an elderly gentleman who was being discharged from CDU for hospice care to a hospice care facility. He told his nurse, Linda McMillian, that he wished he could be baptized by full-body immersion before leaving the hospital since he would not return home. Linda decided to take action. She contacted Melissa Morin, her nurse manager, and told her of the patient’s wish, asking if we could do anything to make this happen. Melissa of course said, “Let’s try” and called upon her ANMs; Suzanne McClurg, Alisha Green, and Devon Richardson, to explore options.

Together with creative thinking the help of Michelle Chapman-Campbell, manager for Chaplaincy Services, Christen Grimes – Director of Women’s & Children’s services, Ginger Sorenson, ANM for Labor & Delivery, Hank Dawson and Don Shaw from Plant Engineering, the patient’s wish come true the next day. A birthing pool was brought to the ER by Plant Engineering, placed in his room, and filled with water for the baptism to take place. Michelle had arranged for the pastor to be present to perform the baptism with the patient’s family to witness. Other team members stood by to assist if needed.

For patient safety, Suzanne came in on her day off to stand in the pool while the baptism took place to manage the medical needs of the patient while Mike Anderson and Adrien Nkodo (Emergency Room Techs) stood by in case extra hands were needed to help the patient out of the water. Many thanks to all present and behind the scene who helped make this patient’s wish possible.