February 2023
Christine
Hess
,
BSN, RN, PCCN
Critical Care ICU
Bayhealth Medical Center
Milford
,
DE
United States
Christine was able to shape his hand into the sign language position for "I love you" which he and the patient's wife used oh so often.
This recognition is long overdue for this amazing nurse whom I get to call my coworker. But then again, I am sure that I could recognize her for her overall care as she is such a compassionate caregiver for the people, we take care of here in the CCU. I would like to recognize Christine for a particular instance that stays near and dear to my heart. We had a patient who was intubated here in the critical care unit. He was a larger man; some would say he looked intimidating but was sweet as could be according to the family and friends who came to see him. He had clubs for hands, very large in size.
His wife and son came to visit towards the end of his care and leading up to the end of his life. In this time, we got to know the son and wife of the patient a little bit better. The son flew in from California, and the wife was deaf. During this time, we found out that the patient and the wife would "sign" to each other, "I love you." She and he both were very sweet and caring family members and were very taken aback by the situation at hand and his current prognosis.
Christine was there for them when needed the most. She made them feel welcome, she made them feel like they weren't alone and that everything was going to be okay even if it wasn't. Christine was a key piece to the care that this man needed, not only for himself during his last days, but for his immediate loved ones as well. Christine contacted the Kent Campus Labor and Delivery Unit and was able to get ahold of the staff member that does hand molds for babies. Luckily, Christine got in touch with her in the nick of time because she was about to be off work. She drove down to our campus and was able to get a hand mold of the patient shortly after he was terminally extubated, and the family said their final goodbyes and I love yous. This staff member said that this was the only time that our campus has contacted them to get a hand mold for a patient.
What made this even more special was that Christine was able to shape his hand into the sign language position for "I love you" which he and the patient's wife used oh so often. The wife and son were so grateful for this gift from us. It touched our hearts that they were so appreciative and that we were able to give them something to remember him by. None of this would have been possible without the compassion and thoughtfulness of Christine.
His wife and son came to visit towards the end of his care and leading up to the end of his life. In this time, we got to know the son and wife of the patient a little bit better. The son flew in from California, and the wife was deaf. During this time, we found out that the patient and the wife would "sign" to each other, "I love you." She and he both were very sweet and caring family members and were very taken aback by the situation at hand and his current prognosis.
Christine was there for them when needed the most. She made them feel welcome, she made them feel like they weren't alone and that everything was going to be okay even if it wasn't. Christine was a key piece to the care that this man needed, not only for himself during his last days, but for his immediate loved ones as well. Christine contacted the Kent Campus Labor and Delivery Unit and was able to get ahold of the staff member that does hand molds for babies. Luckily, Christine got in touch with her in the nick of time because she was about to be off work. She drove down to our campus and was able to get a hand mold of the patient shortly after he was terminally extubated, and the family said their final goodbyes and I love yous. This staff member said that this was the only time that our campus has contacted them to get a hand mold for a patient.
What made this even more special was that Christine was able to shape his hand into the sign language position for "I love you" which he and the patient's wife used oh so often. The wife and son were so grateful for this gift from us. It touched our hearts that they were so appreciative and that we were able to give them something to remember him by. None of this would have been possible without the compassion and thoughtfulness of Christine.