January 2019
Morganne
Ketterer
,
BSN, RN
Emergency Department
UPMC Presbyterian
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

Morganne was the working in T-2 (trauma section of the ED) when we had two related cases present from the scene as traumas. Both involved in the same MVC. One was the driver and another was a passenger of the car. The passenger was the mother of children who were also in the car and taken to CHP for evaluation. After such evaluation two of the children were evaluated and were said to be okay, but her 7-year-old daughter passed away in the OR following the tragedy. I spoke with the SW at CHP who informed me of this information and updated Morganne of her patient's child's status. The patient was to be admitted and still did not know about the passing of her daughter. Through conversation with CHP staff, it was determined that CHP MDs who cared for the 7-year-old would provide the update to our patient over the SW phone. When I updated Morganne of this she asked, "Would it be okay if I went with you to support her when she gets this news?" Morganne is someone who always is invested in her patients so her request to go the extra mile to support her patient was not surprising to me. The two of us accompanied the patient to the floor, gave the unit staff time to get her settled in and then went into her room with CHP MDs on the phone line. Myself, Morganne, and the 12D RN on the case were in the room when the patient received the tragic news of her young daughter's death. Morganne stayed with the patient as long as I did offering support and never wavering from being a familiar face to this patient who lost her child and had no family present to support her at this time when she received the terrible news. As an RN, taking the extra step to support your patient in a tragic time is not required, yet Morganne never hesitated to be there to support her patient in a holistic manner that was more than the required clinical care. RNs like this should be recognized for the compassion, empathy, and commitment they share with their patients. Thank you for the care you provided to this patient, Morganne.