Dena Van Ness
July 2015
Dena
Van Ness
,
RN
Emergency Department
Providence Regional Medical Center
Everett
,
WA
United States

 

 

 

Dena had a patient in the Emergency Department that had just experienced a late term miscarriage. Dena took the most amazing care of this young mother and her child, not only from a medical standpoint, but with compassion and empathy. Dena realized the importance of obtaining a fetal demise kit for this mother. She also realized the child's gestational young feet were so pliable that the plaster in the regular kits might not make a good impression. As a result she sought out from the NICU a fetal demise ink kit that would allow for ink imprints of the child's feet. She delicately imprinted the child's feet in plaster and ink. She also acquired a tiny diaper to place on the child which she helped to place. During this time, the child was named, held and cherished. This incredible compassionate care was given while caring for other patients in her assignment. This did not keep her from fully embracing this mother and her child with all the compassion and kindness they needed during this sorrowful time. She brought peace and healing to this mother. Dena connected on a most intimate and personal level as only a nurse can do and shared this mother's grief and pain.