October 2021
Lynn
Price
,
APRN
Critical Care
St. Joseph's Hospital
Tampa
United States
They held one of their mother's hands as Lynn, in her sweet southern drawl, eloquently but simply explained the patient’s condition being terminal and what options there were, and what the expected outcomes would be.
Lynn granted a dying patient’s wish. The patient wanted to be comfort measures but needed to speak to her children. She said she would need someone with her if they came because they had not spoken in years. Their last meeting one Thanksgiving ended in angry words and threats. Lynn spent a long time on the phone with them, ultimately bringing them together on a conference call. While refereeing and re-directing them, she was able to get them to a point they could speak to each other for the good of their mother. Shortly thereafter, the patient’s condition started to deteriorate. It was decided they needed to come in now for “the difficult discussion” with their mother. They came to the bedside, after a discussion about acceptable behaviors; they entered the room to join their mother. They held one of their mother's hands as Lynn, in her sweet southern drawl, eloquently but simply explained the patient’s condition being terminal and what options there were, and what the expected outcomes would be. There was barely a dry eye in the room as this family was reunited for just a short time…..the wish of a dying patient.