Lisa Hickson
August 2015
Lisa
Hickson
,
BSN, RN
Cardiac ICU
UF Health - Shands
Gainesville
,
FL
United States

 

 

 

Cardiac ICU had a patient who had been sick most of her life. While we tried to offer her a procedure, it was clear that this was her final exacerbation. She yearned to see something other than the four walls of her bedspace. Taking her outside was an option, but she would inevitably return to her hospital room. Lisa Hickson, BSN, RN, knew that the patient loved the jungle so she created a jungle in her hospital room out of felt, paper, frog stickers and pictures. The trees and leaves encircled her bed with monkeys leaping between branches. This patient had been depressed by her lack of progress and was delighted with the change of scenery. Lisa poured a large amount of creativity and kindness into this effort. The patient was smiling at her new environment thanks to Lisa. When the patient's mother saw her bedspace, she was overcome with emotion. Lisa created an alternative space for this patient to find peace.