Megan Orth, RN

Megan encountered a patient at the Colby clinic who had recently been diagnosed with cancer and had fluid drained from their lungs prior. During the encounter, the patient expressed some continued concerns about chest pain and trouble breathing. While they were discussing, the patient expressed hesitation about seeing any advanced care and that they were already seeking hospice due to a poor prognosis. Megan, not wanting the patient to suffer, needlessly asked the patient to allow her to seek further advice before leaving. Megan then began seeking help from oncology as to possible alternative actions to help the patient. While she was not able to confirm any good options, she went with her gut and spoke honestly with the patient. Megan laid out her concerns and all the reasons why she felt strongly about the patient seeking help from our ER. She coached the patient on what to say and asked for help expedite the process. Megan’s passion, empathy, and honesty connected with the patient, and as a result, the patient agreed to go in. The patient was seen and treated with removal of a large amount of fluid. This action spared the patient unnecessary suffering and brought them valuable time despite their prognosis. Megan clearly went the extra mile and used her experience and intuition to make a great call. Her empathy and honesty helped her connect with a patient experiencing the toughest time in their life, and her actions prevented suffering. This is the kind of care I hope we all strive for, no matter the circumstance.