That "cool dude" is what my Dad called him in his final hours of life, but I called him an amazing nurse. Robert is a true DAISY Nurse because he was so kind and compassionate, not just to a dying old man, but to the entire family.
We stood in a room filled with sorrow and emotional pain but somehow I could see the beauty in Dad's transition because Robert made us feel so comfortable in that hospital room. I am forever grateful that Dad had all of his children surrounding him with love as he exhaled his last breath. I realize during this pandemic it is very difficult to make that happen but somehow Robert did. He thoroughly answered every question and patiently waited until we were all ready to start the morphine drip and when the oxygen was too uncomfortable for Dad, he ensured we were all ok before removing it. He knew how to delicately guide our emotions during the dying process. He talked to us at eye level in a comforting and compassionate tone while being skilled enough to stand graceful near the IV pump, adjust the morphine, silence the alarms, and count respirations. All the "little things" that go unnoticed by many families did not go unnoticed this time.
I am an emergency nurse and I have so much admiration for Robert and his skills as a nurse, he truly encompasses what compassionate care is all about. He stayed in the room with us during Dad's transition to ensure we were all taken care of and I know he had other patients that needed him as well, but he made us his priority. He thanked us for allowing him to take care of our Dad and I noticed he was a little tearful as well. Human connection and compassion are so important for all nurses in today's world and Robert is one of the best nurses I have encountered.