January 2024
Susan
Hawkins
,
NP
Intensive Care Units
Centra
Lynchburg
,
VA
United States
It was an absolutely amazing display of patient care above and beyond their role.
Susan and Dr K are ALWAYS excellent in their patient care, attention to family, communication with nursing, and responsiveness to pages…but in this story, they truly embodied what it means to go above and beyond their duties. I was caring for a patient in MICU who unfortunately ended up coding and passing away while in a CT scan. In the hours and previous days leading up to the patient’s passing, Dr K cared for the patient. She came to the bedside numerous times to check on her and to speak with the family and build a good connection with them. Before the code was called, I expressed my concerns about an impending event to Dr K. She took the time to find the patient's daughter, have a discussion regarding goals of care and code status, and walk her down to the CT scan so she could see her mom in case she coded. As they were arriving the code was called, and that is when Susan Hawkins, NP arrived. The daughter made the decision to call it and let the patient pass peacefully. Even after the code team cleared out, Dr K and Susan stayed with me the ENTIRE time. They helped the patient's daughter into a wheelchair, loved on her, and had someone wheel her up to MICU while they both helped me get the patient back up to her room (wheeled the bed with me) so the family could say their goodbyes. Both Dr K and Susan saw the entire process through with me— bathed the patient, changed the linens, cleaned up the room, and got everything calm and presentable for the family. They both then got the patient's daughter and wheeled her into the room and stayed and loved on her until the chaplain arrived. It was an absolutely amazing display of patient care above and beyond their role. I, as well as the other nursing staff, were in awe of their dedication and time commitment to this situation when we knew they were extremely busy and had many other things they could have been doing. They are compassionate, caring, and amazing providers. Centra is so lucky to have them. They could care for my loved ones ANY day of the week.