Every once in a while, a star comes out at night when you least expect it.  Recently I was working a trauma that ended tragically after everyone thought the patient was on the way to recovery.  After what seemed like hours working the code, it was time to tell the family (wife and mother) that the patient didn’t make it.  After spending her time working on the patient one trauma nurse immediately volunteered to follow the doctor to the family room and to deliver the news.  Everyone was exhausted from the efforts to save the patient but she didn’t hesitate to join the doctor and the chaplain on their necessary visit.  She was a trauma nurse and didn’t have to step beyond her normal duties to minister to the family…but she did, instantly and professionally.

When the doctor delivered the news, the family was shocked and very emotional.  The nurse immediately stepped next to the grieving mother and began to console her with touch, tears, and compassion.  After calming the mother and others in the room, she lingered to ensure all were recovering.

This trauma nurse demonstrated the caring attitude stated in every HCA purpose statement and training effort.  She let the patient’s family know that we cared for them and their loss.  They lost a son and husband, but they felt the caring hands and voice of a true HCA professional.
 
Kate Stedman deserves appropriate recognition for her perfect representation of the HCA family!!