April 2024
Victoria
Appel
,
RN
Critical Care
TidalHealth Peninsula Regional
Salisbury
,
MD
United States
At 0138, the patient passed away peacefully, having made her own decision and final requests that, thanks to the advocacy of both Victoria and R from Food and Nutrition, made happen outside the realm of what was typically not expected or available to our patients.
I witnessed a show of compassion from a member of our ICU nursing staff and Food and Nutrition to honor a dying patient's last wish. At 2250, the ICU charge called to share with me that she knew the kitchen was closed, but a patient who had just decided to make herself comfort care wanted her last request to have a bacon and egg dinner.
I told her that I would investigate our options, and at 2303, I came to the kitchen to find R already there, which was serendipitous because the night team does not normally report until 0000. I explained the situation in which the dying patient had one last request: to have bacon and eggs. While I told him that I had never had a request like this from a patient at this hour, R didn't hesitate and said, "Give me 15 minutes." He promptly provided me with a robust portion of the patient's favorite and final meal to take upstairs.
When I arrived in the ICU at 2318, the patient's nurse, Victoria Appel, shared with me that when she talked with the patient about her decision, she asked if there was anything that she could do to help make her more comfortable and at that moment is when she asked for her favorite last meal request. The patient was still alert and oriented when I came into the room and the family expressed how they thought that this was a request that they never thought would happen being so late at night. They were incredibly grateful as the patient indulged in this meal, and then she told the staff that she was ready to start the morphine infusion.
At 0138, the patient passed away peacefully, having made her own decision and final requests that, thanks to the advocacy of both Victoria and R from Food and Nutrition, made happen outside the realm of what was typically not expected or available to our patients. When the patient passed, the family wished for her to be picked up from the bedside and did not want to leave until the funeral home, which was not in the area, came to the unit. Victoria refused to go to lunch because she did not want the family to leave without having the opportunity to say goodbye despite the extended wait and foregoing her own nutritional needs.
This is not an isolated incident of compassion that I have witnessed from this nurse. On Saturday night, her patient was confused and anxious; as I came through the unit, well after midnight, I saw Victoria reading to the patient from her book until she was able to fall asleep. Victoria is a true DAISY Nurse
I told her that I would investigate our options, and at 2303, I came to the kitchen to find R already there, which was serendipitous because the night team does not normally report until 0000. I explained the situation in which the dying patient had one last request: to have bacon and eggs. While I told him that I had never had a request like this from a patient at this hour, R didn't hesitate and said, "Give me 15 minutes." He promptly provided me with a robust portion of the patient's favorite and final meal to take upstairs.
When I arrived in the ICU at 2318, the patient's nurse, Victoria Appel, shared with me that when she talked with the patient about her decision, she asked if there was anything that she could do to help make her more comfortable and at that moment is when she asked for her favorite last meal request. The patient was still alert and oriented when I came into the room and the family expressed how they thought that this was a request that they never thought would happen being so late at night. They were incredibly grateful as the patient indulged in this meal, and then she told the staff that she was ready to start the morphine infusion.
At 0138, the patient passed away peacefully, having made her own decision and final requests that, thanks to the advocacy of both Victoria and R from Food and Nutrition, made happen outside the realm of what was typically not expected or available to our patients. When the patient passed, the family wished for her to be picked up from the bedside and did not want to leave until the funeral home, which was not in the area, came to the unit. Victoria refused to go to lunch because she did not want the family to leave without having the opportunity to say goodbye despite the extended wait and foregoing her own nutritional needs.
This is not an isolated incident of compassion that I have witnessed from this nurse. On Saturday night, her patient was confused and anxious; as I came through the unit, well after midnight, I saw Victoria reading to the patient from her book until she was able to fall asleep. Victoria is a true DAISY Nurse