January 2018
Hunter
Rogers
,
RN
Surgery & Trauma
WakeMed Health & Hospitals
Raleigh
,
NC
United States
This patient was involved in a motor vehicle crash where her daughter-in-law died, and son and daughter were injured. The son and family left to attend the funeral in VA. Tonya developed a relationship with the son, knew the family was attending the funeral and didn't want the patient to be alone. Over the weekend the patient was declared DNR and actively dying. Throughout the weekend, Tonya and Hunter rotated spending time at the patient's bedside so she wouldn't be alone. They kept the room quiet, softly playing her favorite music, and sat with her holding her hand. After her shift Sunday evening, Tonya stayed with the patient until midnight and then returned on Monday. She held the patient's hand as she passed on that Monday. Tonya wasn't scheduled to work Monday and came in on her day off. Tonya and Hunter's care exemplifies the selfless caring and compassion that all WakeMed nurses should strive to achieve. It was so refreshing and encouraging to see these two nurses remember what is really important; being with this patient during her final hours.