Adam Haut (manager), Jeanne Wehrman (Honoree), Jackie Anhalt (CNE)
February 2014
Jeanne
Wehrman
,
RN
ED
Genesis Medical Center
Davenport
,
IA
United States
Jeanne comes to work every day to live the Genesis mission. She truly provides an exceptional patient experience to each of her patients. The experience that sticks out most in my mind was an end of life case. Our day to day work in the ED entails "saving lives one at a time" as we like to say.
On this particular day her patient came in critical and as she tended to the demands of critical care, while the physician and Chaplin worked with the family a decision was made that the gentleman would want to die peacefully at this point. Jeanne's care of the patient to this point was exceptional as usual but what occurred next was even more exceptional. Jeanne professionally and gracefully turned off alarms and any visual indicators like monitors in the room slowly dimmed the light as the family gathered around the bedside to spend the last few moments or hours with their loved one, it was really not known how long the patient might continue to support himself.
Jeanne quietly provided explanations to the family as the process moved along. The pastor came to give last rights and she remained at the bedside continuing to care for the family as well as the patient. As the family made comments of this loved ones life she would make comments like "He sounds like a very interesting man, I wished I would have known him better." Even though this emergency room visit ended in death it was the most gracious death I have ever experienced. Jeanne's compassion and commitment to the patient experience goes above and beyond. This family recognized her on the way out as an exceptional nurse and I was honored to let them know that this was Jeanne every day she come to work.
You will rarely see Jeanne if you come to the ED to see who this wonderful nurse is we speak of. The reason being she will be with her patient, rounding on the patients of others, cleaning a room, getting a warm blanket for someone, or simply sitting with a patient who needs her to listen. I will however be happy to find her for you so that you can meet this great example of our mission here at Genesis.
On this particular day her patient came in critical and as she tended to the demands of critical care, while the physician and Chaplin worked with the family a decision was made that the gentleman would want to die peacefully at this point. Jeanne's care of the patient to this point was exceptional as usual but what occurred next was even more exceptional. Jeanne professionally and gracefully turned off alarms and any visual indicators like monitors in the room slowly dimmed the light as the family gathered around the bedside to spend the last few moments or hours with their loved one, it was really not known how long the patient might continue to support himself.
Jeanne quietly provided explanations to the family as the process moved along. The pastor came to give last rights and she remained at the bedside continuing to care for the family as well as the patient. As the family made comments of this loved ones life she would make comments like "He sounds like a very interesting man, I wished I would have known him better." Even though this emergency room visit ended in death it was the most gracious death I have ever experienced. Jeanne's compassion and commitment to the patient experience goes above and beyond. This family recognized her on the way out as an exceptional nurse and I was honored to let them know that this was Jeanne every day she come to work.
You will rarely see Jeanne if you come to the ED to see who this wonderful nurse is we speak of. The reason being she will be with her patient, rounding on the patients of others, cleaning a room, getting a warm blanket for someone, or simply sitting with a patient who needs her to listen. I will however be happy to find her for you so that you can meet this great example of our mission here at Genesis.