October 2023
Quinton
Tran
,
RN
CVICU
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
Palo Alto
,
CA
United States
Life-sustaining therapies were withdrawn, and the child was allowed to die peacefully in her mother’s arms. Quinton was the consummate professional throughout, prepared for everything, and provided incredible empathic care to the family.
Last week, Quinton was caring for a long-term patient of this hospital who was acutely declining. We were providing maximum medical therapy within the family's goals of care, given the patient's long-term prognosis. It became clear to us that things were worsening quickly, and Quinton coordinated an interpreter to help us communicate with the family by phone and request them to come to the bedside. She again helped us facilitate a bedside meeting when the family arrived to update them on the patient’s grave condition. Quinton was able to talk with them alone after, showing them compassion and practicing quite independently during a particularly busy shift. Unfortunately, our patient’s family left, and the patient continued to deteriorate and transition to actively dying. She helped us contact the family again, and sadly, the family had some significant transportation issues. Quinton reached out to the House Supervisor, who was unable to help the family arrange transportation. Given the urgency of the situation, she went out of her way to order the family an Uber without being asked. They missed the first Uber, and she called another one for them. By the time they arrived, Quinton had coordinated everything. A memory box was already completed, including footprints and a rhythm strip, a bereavement cart, and a new outfit for the patient. She pre-medicated her patient to avoid family witnessing air hunger and had chairs, tissues, and an interpreter in the room. Life-sustaining therapies were withdrawn, and the child was allowed to die peacefully in her mother’s arms. Quinton was the consummate professional throughout, prepared for everything, and provided incredible empathic care to the family. She practiced not only at the top of her licensure but also with all of the qualities that every nurse should hope to demonstrate each day. She utilized her team members as needed but showed her independence as well. Quinton showed her amazing heart and genuine care she has for our patients and families that night, going above and beyond without being asked or expecting accolades in return.