I am a nurse on TCA 8th floor. I had the pleasure of meeting you a few weeks back and just wanted to share an observation with you.
End of life is a difficult situation for our patients and their families during normal times. This difficulty is further complicated by the current pandemic the world is facing. Due to strict visitor restrictions at hospitals, patients succumbing to complications of COVID-19 are doing so alone. Families are not present during these final moments to say their goodbyes or hold their loved one's hand as they take their last breath.
In our unit, we have a patient that will inevitably pass away after a potential exposure to COVID-19. Because we do not have the results of the test back, the family is unable to come in to see them. Laura Anklam (per usual) thought outside of the box and set-up a Webex with her laptop. Numerous family members were then provided with the link so they could video chat with the patient and say goodbye.
Laura stayed at the patient's bedside for four hours after her shift, helping the family get connected to the conference call and providing comfort to the patient who was otherwise alone. I could not speak higher of Laura's selfless actions tonight. Beyond any doubt, she demonstrated what it truly means to be a nurse. Laura's efforts will have a positive impact on this patient's family as they grieve for the loss of their loved one. As her colleague, I am extremely proud of her and I wanted you to know what a considerable asset she is to this organization.