Kelsi Bryan cared for a 53-year-old patient on 10 NCCU with the diagnosis of ischemic stroke. The patient had called his brother to tell him he wasn't feeling well and his brother arrived at the house and found him unresponsive. Prior to his stroke the patient had been "normal" and was struggling with the loss of independence related to his condition. The patient remained alert and oriented his entire hospital stay but unable to speak, with this in mind, Kelsi worked with the patient to establish a means to communicate with her and his family.
Kelsi recognized the need to keep her questions short and focused so he would not become overwhelmed. She worked with the interdisciplinary team to get the patient up to the chair and to sit on the side of the bed to relieve pain and discomfort. The patient's wife and children were at the bedside and were distraught, confused, and feeling overwhelmed with what this stroke meant for their loved one. They were told that there was a good possibility that he would not recover and would be totally dependent on others for care. Kelsi quickly bonded with the family, the patient was about the same age as her dad and his kids were close to her in age. She provided emotional support and extensive education to them about the patient's condition and the care she was providing.
The patient was in the hospital during the Christmas holidays and Kelsi helped the family decorate the room with a small tree and other decorations to lift their spirits. The patient continued to decline, he lost his ability to move any of his extremities which not only frightened the patient but also his family. Kelsi kept a close eye on the patient and was in constant communication with the medical team about any changes to his condition. As the patient's condition worsened, Kelsi asked for a family meeting with the team. The family was reluctant to leave the bedside, Kelsi said she would remain with the patient and she held his hand the entire time so he was not alone. The patient further declined and Kelsi asked for another family meeting, the family was told the patient was not going to gain any semblance of independence.
The family was exhausted and overwhelmed, they were struggling with making a decision about what to do. Kelsi encouraged the family to step away from the hospital and talk as a family, they were reluctant to do this. Kelsi assured them of three things - leaving the hospital would not change the patient's condition, the medical team will respond no matter who is or is not visiting the patient and the importance of taking care of them themselves to best support the patient. Kelsi's "human side" came out at this point in time; she saw the weight of the grief of the past 24 hours the family was experiencing and had never felt like this about a patient and family before. A discussion about the transition of the patient to comfort care was very difficult; Kelsi cried with the family and helped them as they made this difficult decision.
Care was withdrawn and the patient passed away shortly thereafter. Kelsi shared that the patient's daughter contacted her several months later to let her know how much the care she provided to both the patient and the family meant to them. There is so much more to this story, these are just the highlights. Kelsi embodies what The DAISY Award means, being kind, caring, and compassionate during a patient and family's most vulnerable time.
Kelsi, they won't ever forget you!!