Last week one of the long-time patients on our floor finally lost their battle with their illness. This patient had been in and out of our hospital for years being treated and when the end was near requested to pass away at PSL so the patient could be cared for by the nursing staff the patient had come to trust. Melissa was working a 12-hour shift and went to see the patient to say goodbye as we all knew the patient did not have long to live. A short while later Melissa received a phone call from the nurse who was caring for the patient that day. The patient was having high anxiety and was requesting that Melissa come to hold the patient's hand and be with the patient when they passed. After Melissa finished the shift, Melissa went to the patient's room and proceeded to sit by the patient's bedside holding their hand for the next 10 hours. Melissa was still in scrubs, did not eat dinner and only took 1-2 breaks to use the bathroom and have a cup of tea.
As nurses we often take care of patients while they are dying. And you hope your presence and nursing care makes a difference. But Melissa's compassion to sit with a dying patient for 10 hours after a long shift and put aside her own needs for food, sleep, and rest was so humbling. Melissa honored a patient's dying wish for companionship and eased the suffering of a dear soul as they passed on from this life. Melissa's actions were so beautiful and reminded me of how proud we all should be to hold the title of nurse.