I want to commend Nurse Jackie Dawson for being an exceptional nurse. In June, my 98-year-old mother was hospitalized at TMMC for ten days. During that time, I met all of my mother's nurses and got to see their work. All of the nurses were excellent, but one was exceptional—Nurse Jackie Dawson.
I first met Nurse Jackie one morning when the Doctor was making his rounds. Nurse Jackie made her report to the Doctor and made a compelling argument to the Doctor to change his orders and make a stronger pain medication available. In recent days I had witnessed other nurses make the same appeal without success. The Doctor, without any question, changed the orders and he clearly respects the opinion of Nurse Jackie.
After her report, Nurse Jackie remained in my mother's room while the Doctor and I discussed treatment options, including hospice. The Doctor left and Nurse Jackie stayed in the room and discussed the hospice option with me. Nurse Jackie told me of her personal experience with the recent death of her grandfather who died at home on hospice care. It was this conversation with Nurse Jackie that put my mind at ease and allowed me (in consultation with other family members) to make the decision to move to hospice care. My family members and I had already had the hospice discussion with several doctors and several representatives from hospice agencies—all were fairly clinical. But, it was Nurse Jackie, with her personal from the heart story that resonated with me. Nurse Jackie went above and beyond the call of duty in sharing her personal story and making our difficult decision much easier. Thank you, Nurse Jackie.
That same day, in the afternoon, my mother was transferred to the Hunt Tower and out of Nurse Jackie's care. By happenstance, I met Nurse Jackie again in the first-floor lobby as she was getting off work. She saw me and she walked over. She asked how my mother was doing, gave some words of encouragement, and gave me a much-needed hug. Nurse Jackie said that her next work shift will be Saturday and I am welcome to stop by just to talk. This was one of those small, but very impactful gestures. Nurse Jackie obviously cares about her patients, and she also cared about me. Again, Nurse Jackie went beyond the call of duty. Thank you, Nurse Jackie.
My mother came home from TMMC on hospice care. We had a day-long family vigil at her bedside the next day with much tears and laughter. She was finally at home and at peace.
Nurse Jackie is special—I think you may already know that. Two weeks after my mother passed I went to the nurses' station at the 5th floor west PCU to further identify Nurse Jackie. There were two nurses at the station when I asked for help in identify the Nurse Jackie who cared for my mother and to whom to send a written commendation. Both nurses smiled, chuckled a little, and said, of course, it is Jackie Dawson —no records search was necessary.