October 2015
Nancy
Johnson
,
RN
ICU/IMCU
Gwinnett Medical Center
Lawrenceville
,
GA
United States
Nancy Johnson is a true team player, patient advocate and all round great nurse with a great attitude towards life. The following story is just one example of her compassion for her patients.
Nancy was assigned to a patient that was near the end of life. She spoke with the patient's son at the bedside just after he made the decision to move toward comfort care. She asked the young man, who appeared to be in his 20's if his mother would be coming up to be with him. He told her that his mother was deceased and the patient's mother was too ill to come to the hospital. The son himself asked if a chaplain was available. Nancy sprang into action.
A call was placed to the on-call chaplain in Lawrenceville. That chaplain said that it may take a while for her to get to Duluth. Instead of assuming nothing else could be done, she brought her concerns to the shift supervisor. Nancy expressed concern that the Chaplin could not get to the hospital before the patient expired. She was clearly upset and nearly in a panic. She had large tears in her eyes with compassion for her patient and his son at the bedside.
We were moved by her compassion...we talked about how we used to gather around a patient's bed, sing and pray when we worked (elsewhere). We asked Nancy if would she be OK with us doing this for her patient. She had a relieved look on her face, "yes, why not?" We all jumped into action.
Nancy prepared the patient's son for the group of associates about to join them in the room. We all held hands, including the patient's son, making a circle. We asked the son if we could sing Amazing Grace. He said it was OK to do whatever you do. This patient was beginning to decline very fast. It was clear he was taking his last breaths as we arrived. We all joined hands and sang Amazing Grace and said the 23rd Psalm, ending with the PSC saying a very sweet prayer for the patient and his son. This nurse encouraged the patient's son to sit with his dad during the last moments of his life. The father passed away almost immediately. This really was a somber moment and very emotional for all of us.
The son with tears in his eyes expressed his gratitude to all of us as hugs were exchanged. Our time frame was small, we acted quickly and we would like to bring recognition to Nancy Johnson. Without her sense of urgency and passion, this blessed event may not have occurred. Nancy is a beacon of light and a nurse that works with this kind of expressed compassion in all that she does.
Nancy was assigned to a patient that was near the end of life. She spoke with the patient's son at the bedside just after he made the decision to move toward comfort care. She asked the young man, who appeared to be in his 20's if his mother would be coming up to be with him. He told her that his mother was deceased and the patient's mother was too ill to come to the hospital. The son himself asked if a chaplain was available. Nancy sprang into action.
A call was placed to the on-call chaplain in Lawrenceville. That chaplain said that it may take a while for her to get to Duluth. Instead of assuming nothing else could be done, she brought her concerns to the shift supervisor. Nancy expressed concern that the Chaplin could not get to the hospital before the patient expired. She was clearly upset and nearly in a panic. She had large tears in her eyes with compassion for her patient and his son at the bedside.
We were moved by her compassion...we talked about how we used to gather around a patient's bed, sing and pray when we worked (elsewhere). We asked Nancy if would she be OK with us doing this for her patient. She had a relieved look on her face, "yes, why not?" We all jumped into action.
Nancy prepared the patient's son for the group of associates about to join them in the room. We all held hands, including the patient's son, making a circle. We asked the son if we could sing Amazing Grace. He said it was OK to do whatever you do. This patient was beginning to decline very fast. It was clear he was taking his last breaths as we arrived. We all joined hands and sang Amazing Grace and said the 23rd Psalm, ending with the PSC saying a very sweet prayer for the patient and his son. This nurse encouraged the patient's son to sit with his dad during the last moments of his life. The father passed away almost immediately. This really was a somber moment and very emotional for all of us.
The son with tears in his eyes expressed his gratitude to all of us as hugs were exchanged. Our time frame was small, we acted quickly and we would like to bring recognition to Nancy Johnson. Without her sense of urgency and passion, this blessed event may not have occurred. Nancy is a beacon of light and a nurse that works with this kind of expressed compassion in all that she does.