Sydney Sanden
April 2024
Sydney
Sanden
,
RN
Farr 7
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston
,
MA
United States
The way in which Sydney treated my father with such care and kindness, even when he was extremely agitated, brought tears to my eyes.
My 90-year-old father broke his right hip and had surgery, after which he started to develop post-operative delirium. Having watched over my beloved mother like a hawk as her healthcare advocate and shared caregiver (along with my father and sister) since she was first diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2004, I was unphased by my diagnosis with breast cancer 8 years ago. I had thought that I had seen it all - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, photopheresis, autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants, intubation (twice), emergency room visits, extended hospitalizations, doctor's appointments, rehabilitation facilities, etc. That said, nothing prepared me for my 90-year-old father's second fall in the past two years and the post-operative delirium that accompanied his surgery.
My father's mind has always been as sharp as a tack - and he exercised it like one would exercise a body. So, you can imagine the unexpected dismay that I experienced when he came out of surgery and, then, a day and a half later, went downhill fast. I have since learned that he is experiencing postoperative delirium. There are simply no words to describe the utter helplessness that one has when witnessing this. To add insult to injury, this was my father's biggest fear - yet we never spoke about what would happen if something like this happened - and, even if we did, I have no idea if my father would recall such a conversation. My sister and I have tried everything to make him feel safe and comfortable - though it has become increasingly difficult. I have always had great respect for nurses since they deal with patients day in and day out, and they are who I go to for answers - and help.
I asked the nurse, Sydney, for her help this evening. My father was extremely agitated and angry with me for not doing what he was asking me to do (which was impossible since he was in an alternate reality). Suffice it to say, it has been a roller coaster. The floor was short-staffed this evening, and I asked her if she could clean my father's teeth since he seemed to be saying that his mouth was dry - and he was in no position to brush his teeth. Amidst all that was going on, she apologized for the floor being short-staffed and took the time to rinse out/suction his mouth, etc. He was fighting her every step of the way, and I could see how devoted she was to making him comfortable. She used her judgment and stopped when he became very agitated and then started again. That said, she proceeded to apply lip balm to his lips since he had tried to say that they were dry. All the while, she was answering all of my questions about his state of being, medications, treatment plan, etc. I was concerned about him not moving around since he has congestive heart failure, myelodysplasia, etc. So, fluid balance, motion, etc., are very important. I have left his room in tears, which is very unlike me in this situation, as I feel more comfortable when helping one parent or the other in the hospital.
The way in which Sydney treated my father with such care and kindness, even when he was extremely agitated, brought tears to my eyes. My father was only one patient of many. This nurse just let my father's words, spoken in confusion, agitation, etc., slide off of her while she was laser-focused on ensuring that my father was as comfortable as he could be. This night was not the first night the nurse cared for my father - though it had such a profound impact on me that I felt compelled to submit this nomination on her behalf. I suppose that one could argue that this is the job of a nurse. However, what was so striking was the way in which she carried herself. Her concern was evident, and she was caring for both my father and me on this roller coaster ride. She inspired me to view the situation as it was and focus on what my father needed to do to heal, which was one of the greatest gifts that someone could have given to us. It is extraordinarily difficult to navigate a sudden and severe onset of delirium. I watched many nurses approach my father in different ways and, yet, she was different. She treated my father with dignity, respect, and care. Her words inspired me and empowered me to be a better daughter to my father in his time of need - and I will be forever grateful to her for her beautiful gift to humanity.
My father's mind has always been as sharp as a tack - and he exercised it like one would exercise a body. So, you can imagine the unexpected dismay that I experienced when he came out of surgery and, then, a day and a half later, went downhill fast. I have since learned that he is experiencing postoperative delirium. There are simply no words to describe the utter helplessness that one has when witnessing this. To add insult to injury, this was my father's biggest fear - yet we never spoke about what would happen if something like this happened - and, even if we did, I have no idea if my father would recall such a conversation. My sister and I have tried everything to make him feel safe and comfortable - though it has become increasingly difficult. I have always had great respect for nurses since they deal with patients day in and day out, and they are who I go to for answers - and help.
I asked the nurse, Sydney, for her help this evening. My father was extremely agitated and angry with me for not doing what he was asking me to do (which was impossible since he was in an alternate reality). Suffice it to say, it has been a roller coaster. The floor was short-staffed this evening, and I asked her if she could clean my father's teeth since he seemed to be saying that his mouth was dry - and he was in no position to brush his teeth. Amidst all that was going on, she apologized for the floor being short-staffed and took the time to rinse out/suction his mouth, etc. He was fighting her every step of the way, and I could see how devoted she was to making him comfortable. She used her judgment and stopped when he became very agitated and then started again. That said, she proceeded to apply lip balm to his lips since he had tried to say that they were dry. All the while, she was answering all of my questions about his state of being, medications, treatment plan, etc. I was concerned about him not moving around since he has congestive heart failure, myelodysplasia, etc. So, fluid balance, motion, etc., are very important. I have left his room in tears, which is very unlike me in this situation, as I feel more comfortable when helping one parent or the other in the hospital.
The way in which Sydney treated my father with such care and kindness, even when he was extremely agitated, brought tears to my eyes. My father was only one patient of many. This nurse just let my father's words, spoken in confusion, agitation, etc., slide off of her while she was laser-focused on ensuring that my father was as comfortable as he could be. This night was not the first night the nurse cared for my father - though it had such a profound impact on me that I felt compelled to submit this nomination on her behalf. I suppose that one could argue that this is the job of a nurse. However, what was so striking was the way in which she carried herself. Her concern was evident, and she was caring for both my father and me on this roller coaster ride. She inspired me to view the situation as it was and focus on what my father needed to do to heal, which was one of the greatest gifts that someone could have given to us. It is extraordinarily difficult to navigate a sudden and severe onset of delirium. I watched many nurses approach my father in different ways and, yet, she was different. She treated my father with dignity, respect, and care. Her words inspired me and empowered me to be a better daughter to my father in his time of need - and I will be forever grateful to her for her beautiful gift to humanity.