Inez received a patient that was intubated and had been very sick, but his condition was improving. She had been working with the patient most of the day and educating the family about the patient's progress. Alongside the adult family members were a 6-year old grandson and a 9-year old granddaughter. They were inquisitive about the care being given and asked many questions about what was going on.
Later in the day, Inez noted a change in the patient's rhythm and noticed he had gone into complete heart block. His blood pressure had dropped, and the cardiac index was now reading zero. He was quickly progressing to cardiac arrest. The next hour was a blur, filled with administering medications, starting, titrating, and maxing out numerous critical drips, and pacing the patient. He ended up arresting, was resuscitated, and cardiology planned to take him to the cath lab for a transvenous pacer.
After he was resuscitated, Inez went to speak with the family and update them on what had occurred. She reviewed all the interventions that had been put in place and let them his prognosis was very poor. Inez knew that all options had been exhausted and that the family realized that everything possible was being done. As she was leaving, a small voice spoke up, saying, "So there's nothing else to be done?" She turned and saw the little boy standing there, bravely looking up at her. She softly shook her head no. His next words were, "Can we pray?"
Inez immediately thought of all that was going on in the patient's room but knew her team was taking care of the patient's needs. She knew that this little boy's call for prayer for his Grandfather was the most important thing she could do for this family.
She prayed God would spare this man and allow the work of the nurses and doctors to save him. She prayed no matter what happened, that God's will would be done. She prayed for strength for the family, and that if today was the day that this man was to be called home, that his journey be peaceful.
Less than an hour later, the patient was in the cath lab and his heart stopped. He was not resuscitated, as the family had asked that he be made a DNR. Although he passed, his family was at peace after the gift that Inez gave them - her time, and more importantly, her willingness to be present with them - meeting not only the needs of the patient but the spiritual and emotional needs of the family as well.