On Friday, my brother-in-law, B, was brought into Rush Oak Park ED by Oak Park EMS/PD in cardiopulmonary arrest. I happened to be finishing my shift; I entered ED room X when the doctors and other co-workers had just ended resuscitation efforts as ROSC was unsuccessful. The ED team did not know that I was a relative because he arrived without identification when he was found down at a friend’s house who called 911. The doctors and the whole ED team that night were so kind and compassionate in the moments after his death, as I was tearful and surprised. B had unexpectedly died; he was only 54, without a recent history of diagnosed medical conditions or physical complaints. I will forever be thankful for their comforting words and hugs. Empathetic delivery of sad information and being present during tragedy is part of emergency medicine/nursing that is so important to family; they did a great job and I so appreciated them. Everyone was amazing that night. 

One person stood out the most; ED Nurse Rachel Gustafson. After cardiopulmonary arrest resuscitation, the room and patient often look disheveled and discarded packages of epinephrine other such items are on the counters, and sometimes on the floor. Additionally, the patient can appear frightening with the endotracheal tube in place. Rachel stayed with me until I was able to get to my husband and when I came back, the room was completely clean, there was a warm blanket on B and there were two chairs on either side of the ED cart. Most importantly, the appearance of B and the way she did extra things that only another nurse would notice made him look peaceful and not scary even though the endotracheal tube had to remain in place because he was a medical examiner's case. This is the last impression of the person before they are taken away for burial preparation and is very important to the family. Rachel stayed with us and answered all of our questions; her presence was so dear to me and my husband. Being present for those who have lost a person whom they just had dinner with last week is sometimes just as important as high-quality chest compressions and giving life-saving medication.

I am so thankful for Rachel’s holistic, compassionate care, recognizing that the family is a part of the patient. When someone dies suddenly and unexpectedly and is your same age, it makes you think of your own mortality. I am Catholic and believe that death is not the end of eternal life but a new beginning. However, I hope that when I pass, I have a nurse like Rachel who, through her kindness and compassion, brings my family comfort and acceptance. Rachel is an amazing nurse, not only because of this experience but in her everyday practice, and she deserves recognition for her exemplary care. Finally, I am honored to work with her in the ED.