One of Natalie's assignments during February 2019 included a 5-year-old boy who was at the end of his cancer journey and in fact passed away on our shift. I happened to be in charge that day so I was constantly aware of the developing situation and I can say with certainty that Natalie went above and beyond for this child and his family to meet their needs. She was very responsive during this very difficult period.
First off, the parents of this child did not hide their dislike for one another. Each parent had a significant other present, as well as many visitors constantly coming and going. The tension between the 2 "sides" escalated at different times, as the parents disagreed on care measures. Both parents were aware that the oxygen was most likely what was keeping their son alive. The patient had been in his bed for a number of days unresponsive but breathing on his own with the help of an oxygen mask. He was also receiving pain meds and anti-anxiety medication intravenously. After days of watching and waiting, the mom wanted the oxygen removed. The father wanted the oxygen to stay on and less sedating medication for the child. One can just imagine the tension circulating with a child near death, ongoing parental disagreements, not to mention the drove of visitors coming and going and ever-present around the bed, in the anteroom, and out in the hall. I know all of this because Natalie kept me and the entire team up to date as to what was occurring. Natalie was very calm took control of the situation in a very diplomatic manner. Knowing the father was not as accepting of their son's imminent death as the mom, Natalie oftentimes took him aside to help him to calm down. Natalie took the mom aside at times as well, and it was plain to see how much both parents trusted her. There were multiple instances that day of Natalie listening as parents and other family members vented and cried.
Natalie also made sure the patient's sibling and other children present had activities to keep them occupied. Natalie made sure the patient's handprint/Memory kit was completed as well. Natalie singlehandedly took control and managed the visitor flow and the number of people in the room. Natalie prevented chaos through her actions and demeanor. Natalie managed all of these issues while simultaneously caring for the patient and attending to all of his physical needs, including his medications. Natalie offered to and did help mom to bathe her son for the last time. When the patient passed, Natalie stood by and supported the family and managed the amount of staff and visitors in the room.
After the patient passed, mom stated she wanted the patient to go directly to the funeral home from the hospital. This is not the usual, but Natalie coordinated this on her own. She called the funeral director and was able to coordinate his coming despite the short notice. Natalie coordinated every detail right up to when and where he would pick up the child. Parents are not permitted in the morgue, but the patient's mom did not want her son to be alone. Natalie stayed in the morgue with the child until the funeral director arrived after 9 pm, well past her shift.
Natalie cared for and showed great compassion to a dying child and his family while also managing multiple social situations. Natalie took it upon herself to coordinate the unexpected transfer of the patient directly to the funeral home on her own when she could have called Social Work or involved another person. Natalie went above and beyond multiple times that day.