Natalia Krajas, RN

Prior to this admission, this Veteran was fighting a battle with CLL. He was still living independently and had even traveled to Poland to visit family. Despite being vaccinated, he contracted Covid. He fought for his health for 2 weeks, most of his stay in the ICU, before it became clear to his family that it was his time to go. Before his terminal extubation, Natalia knew that she could do one more thing for this Veteran; read Psalm 23 to him in Polish, a language he spoke along with English. Unbeknownst to many of her coworkers, Natalia speaks Polish. She cared for this Veteran before (she is still on ICU nursing orientation), but he was not her patient that day. She printed out Psalm 23 and collaborated with the Veteran’s RN, and her own preceptor, to be present in the room at the time of extubation. The patient was extubated, Natalia read Psalm 23, and the patient passed. Natalia was able to give this Veteran the gift of ensuring that the last words spoken to him in this life, would be in the language of his family. Natalia demonstrated genuine kindness and compassion in the care of this Veteran.