sarah holthus, BSN

We have been caring for a very sick patient in our unit for a couple of months now, and many of the staff members have recently been experiencing compassion fatigue caring for her and her family. Her family members are many, and can be overwhelming at times. The patient is extremely anxious, as one might expect, being hooked up to the ventilator, dialysis, RVAD, multiple IV's, chest tubes, wound vacs, etc. Sarah has been a miracle worker for the patient and family. They frequently request her care, and Sarah can often be found in the patient's room as much as physically possible, charting in the room while holding her hand, bathing her, combing her hair and talking her down from a spell of anxiety. Caring for this patient is no easy feat; she is extremely complex and requires a great deal of compassion and patience. Sarah has taken care of her every day she has been working for almost two months and I have never heard her complain once. It is like she is meant to be here caring for this patient.