August 2015
Kelly
Middaugh
,
RN, BSN
Orthopedics
HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center
Phoenix
,
AZ
United States
I was doing a patient's call back when the woman on the phone informed me that the patient had passed away earlier that day. She indicated that it was expected and that the patient was on hospice care. The woman on the phone introduced herself as the patient's granddaughter and said that she was present for her grandmother's entire stay at the hospital. She immediately started telling me very beautiful and high praising things about Kelly. She described Kelly as "what it means to be a nurse"; caring, compassionate, calm, attentive and someone who cares for the family as much as the patient, especially as the patient's condition worsened. Kelly even had hot tea thrown on her one day by this patient, who was confused and combative at times. Still, Kelly continued to provide compassionate, genuine and gentle care to this patient. This was the patient's last few days of life, and Kelly was loved by this family for the care she provided. The thing they said to me that sticks out the most is "Kelly is definitely in the right career!" Kelly is truly an Extraordinary Nurse.