My aunt was admitted to the ICU at IU Health Arnett for 7 days before passing away. During her stay, she had Connie during the day for the majority of her stay. Connie was compassionate, knowledgeable, and devoted to giving the best care she could to my aunt. Connie was in the room with us a lot of the time answering our questions; and just being there for her.
My aunt can be hard to please. She has had many visits to the hospital in the last year and she came across many wonderful nurses, but you could tell she really trusted and appreciated Connie. Connie and my aunt were able to talk about what the next steps were in the process both of trying to get better, as well as death.
My aunt decided she was ready to go to Heaven. When my aunt made the decision to be taken off the vent to end the suffering, Connie promised her she would stay with her until the end and not let her feel the pain. She kept her word as she stood there with our family and did what she could to make my aunt feel as comfortable as possible as my aunt's journey came to an end.
We as a family appreciated the ICU nurses that took care of her during her stay, especially Connie. We feel like Connie really shined and deserves to be recognized for her work!
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Sister-in-law to this patient writes: "I want to recognize Connie Tishner RN, ICU for her excellent care taking care of my sister in law. My sister in law had been in and out of the hospital several times in the last year for respiratory failure. She came in for the last time with advanced sepsis. She always told my husband, her brother, and me that she never wanted to be intubated ever again. She had remembered that the last time she had to be intubated for respiratory failure, she was completely awake and felt the tube every minute.
She knew that her health was failing this last year. Unfortunately, she quickly went downhill at home and had to be rushed here to the hospital. Her husband could not deal with her dying at home so he did what he thought best for her. She was intubated and started on fluid resuscitation and IV antibiotics to treat the infection that was causing her sepsis.
Within the first day or two after admission, I began to have the difficult conversation with her husband about honoring her wishes. She really had wanted to die at home; not be rushed to the hospital.
Connie overheard our conversation in the hall. I want to commend Connie for being so straightforward with him about honoring his wife's wishes. She was able to explain the end of life issues thoroughly with us; helped to put us at ease.
After several days, it was looking like she was going to need long-term dialysis and trach placement because they could not wean her off the vent. She was very awake when we visited. She was able to communicate that she wanted to quit treatment. She would point to the sky and mouth she was ready to be with God. She did not want to continue futile treatment to keep her alive.
Connie was her nurse for at least 5 days of her hospitalization; very importantly the last few days. I know Connie tried hard communicating regularly to the family her patient's wishes; keeping her comfortable and honoring her wishes. This is very taxing as a nurse because often time families are not able to let go.
Connie made a promise to my sister in law. She promised that she would be there every step of the way during her last moments. The 26 minutes it took for her to take her last breath after extubating, I must say was the hardest; however, Connie was in there the whole time, assuring she was comfortable, while still allowing our 12 family members to surround her, to be with her when she passed.
I cannot say enough about the excellent care Connie gave to my sister in law. Thank you for taking such great care of her."