My mother, age 95, was admitted to a St. Mary's 4th floor room from the ER until a Home Health Hospice room became available on the 5th floor. Without ongoing adequate pain management, my mother was in constant intense agonizing pain. Since I had her Power of Attorney for Health Care, guided by her Advanced Directives, years of conversations should this situation ever arise, and in addition to the choices offered by the ER physician, I made the decision for her to be given enough medication to eliminate her pain, knowing that she would not wake or survive. This was why she was to be moved to hospice within St. Mary's when a room was available. However, it was on the 4th floor unit that my mother received exemplary care. Kate Richards provided care far beyond her regular duties or our expectations.
We first met Kate when we arrived in the 4th floor unit and she learned that my mother was going to be moved to a hospice room and there would be no expectation of healing. Kate looked me in the eye and told me she was not familiar with hospice nursing and had not been trained in hospice care, but she would do her best to provide the comfort care needed. I was impressed that she openly admitted her limitations; however, there was no need. She proceeded to provide the absolute, finest, most compassionate and holistic care my mother, father, daughter and I received during Mom's stay.
From the first moment, Kate seemed to know instinctively what was important and what was not, but it was not just instinctive. Kate thought through everything she did for my mother, then said aloud what made sense and what did not, giving us the opportunity to offer any suggestions or comments my father or I had. She was the nurse, but we felt included in decisions to make my mother the most comfortable as possible.
Kate realized from my mother's condition that specific normal care she did for her other patients would not help my mother's condition, but might actually cause increased pain, such as turning her to the wrong side to check her skin or moving her at all with anything other than the gentlest of movements. I know this was not happenstance because she told us her thinking, checking with us, always communication what she was about to do and why. During Mom's fairly short stay on the 4th floor (approximately 16 hours from midnight to 4PM), I was extremely watchful over my mother's movements for when she showed a need for more pain medication. The pain medication she was able to take was helpful for only a couple of hours at first, but as time went on, additional medication was needed more frequently. During these hours, when I called the nursing station or Kate's phone, Kate would appear almost instantly. Mom continued to need more medication and more frequently in order to keep from crying out in pain. Kate was there, each time, calmly, proficiently giving her the medication and seeing to comfort. Kate's gentle respectful care of my mother was shown in every touch. When did she have the time? She made time. And, each time she entered the room, she always greeted us with a warm quiet smile, asking how we (the family) were doing.
Kate also stopped in regularly to check on us. She seemed to be around whenever there was a need. She showed deep compassion and empathy in what we were all going through. I saw this as she gently cared for my mother, was so respectful of my father (age 97), and supportive of me. There was an open room across the hall that she offered us to use to talk with each other or provide updates to family members travelling here from other parts of the country. At one point, possibly seeing that my father and I had not been out of the room to eat, she brought up a large tray of juices, sodas and all kinds of healthy and tasty snacks covered in plastic wrap. I don't know how long it took me to actually realize I needed to eat, but as soon as the plastic wrap was torn, Kate commented that she was glad to see we'd eaten something. Kate was watching over all of us. At one point when I was just exhausted and emotional, Kate gave me a much needed gentle hug and encouragement.
Kate may initially have felt inadequate in caring for a hospice patient, but she never appeared as anything except concerned for my mother's comfort, incredibly compassionate for what we as a family were going through, open and honest in every communication with us, and all with calm professionalism.
Kate could teach common courtesy, openness in communication, respectfulness and compassion in difficult situations, empathy and excellence in nursing. St. Mary's, you are so lucky to have her. She is an ambassador of good will to the patients and families she serves.