I would like to thank Corinne for her work with the rapid response team and the special time she took to discuss end of life measures with a family. I responded to a rapid response call as an ICU nurse practitioner. Corinne was part of the rapid response team assisting with the care of the patient.

Initially, the patient was agreeable to transfer to the ICU after a discussion with her primary team. However, the patient began to waiver in her decision to want to go to the ICU because she was going to require a breathing tube. Corinne had a lengthy discussion with both the patient and her daughter. They made the decision that after the patient's husband arrived and they discussed further, they would likely proceed with comfort and not transfer to the ICU. When the patient's husband arrived, he was questioning the patient's decision to not transfer. He wanted the patient to go to the ICU and continue fighting. Corinne knew that the patient had expressed her wishes to not transfer or have a breathing tube placed.

Corinne, knowing what the daughter and patient had just discussed, jumped into a very difficult situation and was an advocate for the patient. Knowing that this patient was not likely going to survive given her medical illnesses, she advocated to the husband that it was not likely going to change the outcome of the situation. Corinne displayed empathy and compassion to the family throughout the very difficult situation. The family and patient decided that focusing on comfort was in the best interest of the patient. It was not only in the best interest of the patient, but it was also during a time when ICU beds were critically short. She advocated what was best for the patient, but also was mindful of the critical shortages the ICU was facing.