The veteran arrived in our unit for his dialysis appointment by wheelchair because he couldn't walk from the lobby to the dialysis unit due to being extremely short of breath. Ethan was the nurse assigned to him on this day, and he noted that the Veteran was very short of breath. Ethan immediately evaluated the Veteran (pulse ox, weight, vitals, history) and started oxygen. Upon further evaluation, Ethan discovered that the Veteran had gained approximately 5kg since his last dialysis treatment. Ethan asked if he was on home oxygen, and the Veteran replied that he was. Ethan noticed that the Veteran did not have portable oxygen when he arrived. The Veteran said that he did not have any portable oxygen for when he travels outside of his home when asked.

Ethan challenged the Veteran's dry weight for more fluid removal during dialysis, and after the Veteran was more stable, he went to the Respiratory Department in person to discuss getting a portable O2 tank for the Veteran who needed it today. Within 2 hours, a Respiratory Therapist brought portable O2 for the Veteran to take home after his treatment that day.

The Veteran's dyspnea was resolved with dialysis and oxygen. Ethan also educated the Veteran on the operation of the O2 tank and had the Veteran demonstrate opening the tank and setting the flowmeter prior to leaving his dialysis appointment that day. He seemed relieved that he now had portable oxygen for travel outside the home. Ethan transported the Veteran downstairs to his waiting transportation after all of this. All VA I Care Values: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence were very evident in Ethan’s dialysis/nursing care of this Veteran on this day.