Dani was the RN working on the weekend when my mother was transferred to the Surgical ICU after becoming hypotensive and not very responsive. My mother and I along with my two siblings had already endured about 9 months of hospitalizations followed by rehab followed by more hospitalizations followed by long-term care, so this move to the ICU was yet again another setback. It became obvious over the next 24 hours that her recovery this time was not going to materialize and my siblings and I made the decision to transition to Comfort Care.
My Mother passed peacefully in the afternoon. During this entire process, Dani was there to explain symptoms, medications, equipment and the like in a way that my brother and sister were able to understand and comprehend. I work in the medical field, so things were easier for me to understand. She was there to be sure we, as well as my Mother, were comfortable and she offered positive and comforting words about our family, a family she had only just met.
Dani understands what Nursing is all about, especially nursing at an Ascension hospital. It's more than mechanics and procedures - it's about caring and sharing in the immediate experience of a patient and family. My mother passed away that next afternoon but having Dani there every step of the way was comforting and we could tell that she took her calling seriously, and would do it all again with the next family that needed her. Dani is an exceptional RN and truly reflects the Mission and Values of Ascension Saint Thomas Health.