Margo is a new grad nurse who was accepted into the residency program. She came on the unit full of energy and the willingness to learn, which are some of the best qualities to have especially with everything going on today. I was working the other night and had the privilege of seeing the quality of nurse she has become and will continue to demonstrate further in her career. I was working the ambulance triage and a medic unit brought up to me a patient and I was told, "This patient is a DNR-B, no measures allowed, and it looks as though she is on her way out."
Upon assessment, I agreed with the paramedic. I quickly moved this patient into the trauma room and got the patient transferred and settled. Once settled this patient was assigned to RN Margo. Immediately she entered the room without being told and directed to the situation. This allowed me to attend to other triage ambulance patients. As I walked back to the room, I peeked my head into the trauma room and saw Margo, not running around the room not knowing what to do, but she was just sitting there holding this dying patient's hand and just saying, "I am here with you." No one was with the patient. No one she knew, not any family, just Margo. She had already gotten pillows, blankets, and situated her in the bed, and done everything she could have to comfort the patient.
I then stepped into the room and RN Margo asked me to sit with her because she didn't want her to be alone. She went and spoke with the charge nurse so that she could move this patient into a more comfortable room faster, as well as move the patient closer to her so that she could be by her side at all times and still tend to the other patients on her assignment. With COVID ravaging the healthcare system and causing immense burnout amongst myself, nurses, and all other healthcare workers, actions like this is what nursing is about. Margo showed immense compassion, empathy, and demonstrated what being a nurse is about and what being a nurse at BWMC is truly about.