Gabrielle Bertoldi
July 2025
Gabrielle
Bertoldi
,
BSN, RN
CCU
Cooper University Health Care
Camden
,
NJ
United States
She de-escalated the situation and helped the mom understand that her daughter had passed.
We had a patient who was 21 years old. She required constant care related to a congenital disorder. Her mom had been caring for her all her life. The patient transitioned to comfort care after a long stay. She passed peacefully with her mom at her bedside. The next night, the patient's mom somehow made it back to the floor looking for her daughter. She went into the room where her daughter had been, even though there was another patient in the room. She was distraught and seemed dazed, as if she didn't understand her daughter had passed. She was screaming, and the staff was concerned for the safety of others. Gabrielle stepped in to assist the mom. She de-escalated the situation and helped the mom understand that her daughter had passed. She knew the mom was suffering unimaginable grief. She talked to her, answered questions, and stayed with her until she was able to leave the floor. She gave the mom the compassion she so desperately needed.