On Saturday my mother-in-law was in the hospital receiving treatment for a lymphoma brain tumor. She had recently had radiation. We were hoping to see symptom relief but instead saw her deteriorating as the day went on (more drowsy, increasing length of time to respond, confused, change in breathing). It was found that the tumor was blocking her CNS fluid from being able to flow appropriately causing swelling in her brain. The neurosurgeon placed an EVD to drain the fluid to help decrease the swelling and hopefully alleviate the symptoms. At this time, she was transferred to the CCU for closer monitoring. This is when we met Julie, RN. She greeted us in a calm, gentle, yet confident manner. She immediately introduced herself and began to explain the process of getting her settled and what to expect now: assessments, reviewing orders to determine parameters, etc. This was reassuring as our situation had changed quickly over the last hour/day. Throughout her shift, she continued to keep us updated on what she was seeing and what we could potentially expect. Every time she entered the room she addressed my mother-in-law with a calm voice and a gentle touch. She explained to her (and us) what she was doing (and why) as she smoothly went about her job. Julie took time to ask her and us if we had questions and never seemed rushed to continue on. She shared personal stories that helped build our connection. Our family felt a sense of relief knowing our loved one was getting such kind, genuine, detailed care. As a sidebar, the hospital had switched charting systems the day before. Julie put the needs of the patient first. We never saw or felt an impact on how much this change was affecting her, as her care was seamless. This speaks to her values and resiliency, focusing on what's important. Julie showed core values of an excellent nurse: empathy and caring, open communication, teaching, and critical thinking (as she had at one point discovered the drain was clogged).
We would like to extend our gratitude for all that she did for us during the difficult day.