Miranda Brantley
May 2023
Miranda
Brantley
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
SICU
Brookwood Baptist Medical Center
Birmingham
,
AL
United States
I stood and watched how kind and patient Miranda was with this elderly gentleman, and told myself, "This is the kind of nurse I want taking care of my family."
Several months ago, I found a lost member of the clergy and assisted him to find one of his church members who was in SICU. I stopped at the door of this patient's room to check in with the nurse, prior to bringing him in and stopped to watch Miranda in action.
She was leaning over Mr. W's bedrail with her ear close to him, in an effort to hear what he was trying to say (in his very weakened voice). He had a writing marker in his hand and was also trying to write a message to her. I stood and watched how kind and patient Miranda was with this elderly gentleman, and told myself, "This is the kind of nurse I want taking care of my family." I was so touched and so impressed.
Fast forward several days later. I received a call at home from one of our surgeons. Usually, I don't receive calls after hours. Imagine my surprise, when he opened with, "I just had to call you to tell you about a nurse, who really made a difference with a family." He shared about his patient, Mr. W, who was very ill in the SICU that had recently passed away. On the day Mr. W passed, the physician shared the daughters were both leaving. Miranda intervened and shared with them that she did not think he would make it through the night. As you can imagine, this was a gift (that they didn't even realize was happening). But the story doesn't end here. A few weeks ago, we received this nomination from Mr. W's family:
My husband's grandad was admitted to the SICU after being admitted for sepsis secondary to a hip infection. Miranda was his day shift nurse for the majority of his time there, all the way up to his passing. Miranda did not know that I, myself, am an ICU nurse and greatly admired how open, honest, and communicative she was. With every new thing that each day brought, she was quick to explain and support the decisions of the family.
She knew it was nearing the time that all of the family should see our grandad. Thanks to her, every immediate family member was able to see him before he passed. I know he greatly appreciated this and so did we. Miranda made the entire family feel secure in his care and we cannot thank her and the ENTIRE team enough for caring for him so well in his final days. Amanda was amazing in her care and the reason the entire family was able to see him before he passed.
She was leaning over Mr. W's bedrail with her ear close to him, in an effort to hear what he was trying to say (in his very weakened voice). He had a writing marker in his hand and was also trying to write a message to her. I stood and watched how kind and patient Miranda was with this elderly gentleman, and told myself, "This is the kind of nurse I want taking care of my family." I was so touched and so impressed.
Fast forward several days later. I received a call at home from one of our surgeons. Usually, I don't receive calls after hours. Imagine my surprise, when he opened with, "I just had to call you to tell you about a nurse, who really made a difference with a family." He shared about his patient, Mr. W, who was very ill in the SICU that had recently passed away. On the day Mr. W passed, the physician shared the daughters were both leaving. Miranda intervened and shared with them that she did not think he would make it through the night. As you can imagine, this was a gift (that they didn't even realize was happening). But the story doesn't end here. A few weeks ago, we received this nomination from Mr. W's family:
My husband's grandad was admitted to the SICU after being admitted for sepsis secondary to a hip infection. Miranda was his day shift nurse for the majority of his time there, all the way up to his passing. Miranda did not know that I, myself, am an ICU nurse and greatly admired how open, honest, and communicative she was. With every new thing that each day brought, she was quick to explain and support the decisions of the family.
She knew it was nearing the time that all of the family should see our grandad. Thanks to her, every immediate family member was able to see him before he passed. I know he greatly appreciated this and so did we. Miranda made the entire family feel secure in his care and we cannot thank her and the ENTIRE team enough for caring for him so well in his final days. Amanda was amazing in her care and the reason the entire family was able to see him before he passed.