Kaela Ward
November 2023
Kaela
Ward
,
BSN, RN
ICN
Pennsylvania Hospital
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

I watched as Kaela sat on the floor next to a grieving and hysterical mother and offered what comfort she could provide.
On my last night shift, I experienced what may have been one of the hardest and most challenging shifts of my career. This patient case challenged the whole team mentally, physically, emotionally, and ethically. As I’m continuing to reflect on how the night progressed, I can’t help but recognize the incredible work done by the RN, Kaela Ward. From the second Kaela stepped in for her shift, she was ready for whatever we asked of her. Critically ill and unstable patients require an enormous amount of strength and skill. I watched as Kaela spent 12 hours on her feet, constantly shifting her focus to prioritize what we asked of her and juggling countless tasks at a time. I watched Kaela utilize her resources, clearly recognizing when she needed help and appropriately seeking it. I watched as Kaela finally sat down to chart, only to get up 30 seconds later to complete another task we asked of her. I watched as Kaela sat on the floor next to a grieving and hysterical mother and offered what comfort she could provide. Towards the end of the shift, we faced an impossible situation that left all members of the team in a rare and complex predicament. She met it with understanding, compassion, and grace. She professionally advocated for herself and the patient and clearly asked questions to ensure the whole team was on the same page. Eventually, the night turned to morning, and the day team arrived to take over. I left the bedside tired, drained, broken, and completely speechless. Kaela, still charting after her shift ended 1 hour prior, looked up from her computer to thank me. I am in complete awe of her strength, skill, and character. She is the exact nurse I would want caring for my sick child. We are so incredibly lucky to have her.