Magnolia Hernandez
March 2021
Magnolia
Hernandez
,
RN
Progressive Care Unit
Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center
Without Magnolia, I'm afraid we would have failed this family during their most vulnerable moments.
Our Palliative Medicine team had been consulted to assist with goals of care for the family of a 27-year-old man with a severe congenital intellectual disability admitted for complications related to widely metastatic cancer. Sadly, despite intensive medical care in our CCU for two weeks, our patient developed multi-system organ failure.
It was time for us to discuss compassionate extubation and comfort care with the family.
My coworker assigned to this patient was not working that day and I was asked to assist with the family meeting. The patient's mother was Spanish-speaking and I brought the Stratus Video Translator Unit to the meeting. The family declined to use the Stratus Unit and requested a live medical translator. We could not immediately accommodate their request and our patient's mother became distraught and suffered a syncopal spell and his brother verbalized frustration and anger and exited the meeting.
We needed to quickly identify a native Spanish-speaking medical professional with the ability to convey the medical facts of this terribly sad situation with compassionate integrity. We needed someone who would acknowledge cultural nuances and weave insight into empathetic responses. We needed someone familiar with the limits of medicine and the resultant disconsolate heartbreak, someone patient and aware that denial is a method of coping, someone who shows courage and mindfulness in end-of-life conversations.
Immediately I thought of Magnolia.
Fortunately, Magnolia was working in the PCU that day. Despite having her own high-acuity patient load in this challenging COVID-19 environment, she quickly agreed to help us, obtained approval, and secured coverage for her patients.
As expected, Magnolia's contributions were outstanding throughout this very difficult family meeting. She participated with a humble spirit and a strong desire to help the family as well as our team. Without Magnolia, I'm afraid we would have failed this family during their most vulnerable moments.
I am so grateful to Magnolia and would like to express my appreciation, respect, and recognition of her efforts.
It was time for us to discuss compassionate extubation and comfort care with the family.
My coworker assigned to this patient was not working that day and I was asked to assist with the family meeting. The patient's mother was Spanish-speaking and I brought the Stratus Video Translator Unit to the meeting. The family declined to use the Stratus Unit and requested a live medical translator. We could not immediately accommodate their request and our patient's mother became distraught and suffered a syncopal spell and his brother verbalized frustration and anger and exited the meeting.
We needed to quickly identify a native Spanish-speaking medical professional with the ability to convey the medical facts of this terribly sad situation with compassionate integrity. We needed someone who would acknowledge cultural nuances and weave insight into empathetic responses. We needed someone familiar with the limits of medicine and the resultant disconsolate heartbreak, someone patient and aware that denial is a method of coping, someone who shows courage and mindfulness in end-of-life conversations.
Immediately I thought of Magnolia.
Fortunately, Magnolia was working in the PCU that day. Despite having her own high-acuity patient load in this challenging COVID-19 environment, she quickly agreed to help us, obtained approval, and secured coverage for her patients.
As expected, Magnolia's contributions were outstanding throughout this very difficult family meeting. She participated with a humble spirit and a strong desire to help the family as well as our team. Without Magnolia, I'm afraid we would have failed this family during their most vulnerable moments.
I am so grateful to Magnolia and would like to express my appreciation, respect, and recognition of her efforts.