There are always those patients who change you - those patients and families who break your heart and remind you why you first became a nurse. Recently, there was a young patient in our unit who was suffering from advanced-stage esophageal cancer. She had been feeling ill for a while and ended up postponing coming into the hospital so she could be present for her daughter's graduation. By the time she got to our unit, she was in bad shape and needed to be rapidly intubated for respiratory distress. Katherine held her hand throughout the procedure assuring her that she was not alone and that she would be there to take care of her when she woke up from anesthesia.
Indeed, Katherine was there when she woke up and for the many nights that followed. She cared diligently for her and her family - titrating medications, calling physicians and adding drips, all while fetching blankets for the family and listening to their personal stories about their mother and wife. When the patient's condition continued to worsen and hope seemed to be lost, Katherine sat and grieved with the family whom she had become so close to. They talked about her life and what she had planned and what she would do if she had more time. With some thought, the patient wrote her a note that said, "I just want to walk on the beach one more time."
While I think we can all agree that this is very touching, many people would brush this off as an unrealistic last wish of a dying patient. Katherine, being her extraordinary self, did not. The very next day, Katherine came into work with her arms full of grocery bags. She had gone out after her shift and bought anything and everything that she could find relating to the beach - beach balls, palm tree wall hangings, sterile sand, and even beach scented air freshener. She also went home and disinfected shells from her personal collection to bring in. With the family's blessing, Katherine decorated the patient's room and made the patient her own personal beach sanctuary. To top it all off, the patient was able to fulfill her last wish - to be able to have her feet in the sand one last time.
Sometimes, nursing is not about the patients we save, it is about the journey that we take as a healthcare team together. Because of Katherine's extraordinary care and love, the patient's family left this hospital knowing their wife and mother was loved, valued and truly cared for. Katherine has always been an amazing nurse and this interaction proves that she is a true DAISY Nurse.