Wesley Stephens
November 2021
Wesley
Stephens
,
RN
Critical Care Unit
Southeast Health
Dothan
,
AL
United States
Wesley is a team player. He always volunteers to help his coworkers in tough situations and shows compassion to our patients and families during difficult times.
It is hard to limit this nomination to one situation because Wesley continuously goes above and beyond in every aspect of his work. Yesterday we had the difficult task of withdrawing life support measures on a patient in the critical care unit who could not survive his battle with COVID. I know that this hit Wesley especially hard because the patient has a child the same age as Wesley's daughter.
As I have been so many times before, I was in awe of Wesley's compassion, professionalism, and nursing expertise during this patient's final moments. I remember hearing the patient's wife tell Wesley that it had to be him because she would not want anyone else taking on this burden. That is the impact that his work and limitless compassion have on patients and their families. Again, this is only one of so many situations.
Many times, I have been working with a family through the withdrawal process and Wesley will step in to help, or simply to speak with the family to offer his support. And they all respond the same way because whether or not he is the patient's nurse that day, he leaves a lasting impression on all of the patients and families he has touched. It is my honor to get to work alongside such an exceptional nurse and an even more exceptional human being.
***
Wesley is a team player. He always volunteers to help his coworkers in tough situations and shows compassion to our patients and families during difficult times. Specifically, I have personally witnessed him stand at a patient's bedside for 12+ hours straight to give his best efforts to keep a patient alive while his daughter flew across the country to be by his side while he passed. Thanks to Wesley, that daughter was able to say her goodbyes and be with her dad because of his excellent and persistent nursing care and adequate judgment on the best supportive care to give. This is just an example of the work he does daily in the CCU.
Also, last week he heard me mention that the trash in the Family Conference Room needed taking out before a meeting I had scheduled. Before I could even ask environmental services about it, Wesley had already found a trash bag and taken care of it without me having to ask. Thankful for his service to the CCU and the palliative care team appreciate his compassionate care he provides during the most difficult times.
As I have been so many times before, I was in awe of Wesley's compassion, professionalism, and nursing expertise during this patient's final moments. I remember hearing the patient's wife tell Wesley that it had to be him because she would not want anyone else taking on this burden. That is the impact that his work and limitless compassion have on patients and their families. Again, this is only one of so many situations.
Many times, I have been working with a family through the withdrawal process and Wesley will step in to help, or simply to speak with the family to offer his support. And they all respond the same way because whether or not he is the patient's nurse that day, he leaves a lasting impression on all of the patients and families he has touched. It is my honor to get to work alongside such an exceptional nurse and an even more exceptional human being.
***
Wesley is a team player. He always volunteers to help his coworkers in tough situations and shows compassion to our patients and families during difficult times. Specifically, I have personally witnessed him stand at a patient's bedside for 12+ hours straight to give his best efforts to keep a patient alive while his daughter flew across the country to be by his side while he passed. Thanks to Wesley, that daughter was able to say her goodbyes and be with her dad because of his excellent and persistent nursing care and adequate judgment on the best supportive care to give. This is just an example of the work he does daily in the CCU.
Also, last week he heard me mention that the trash in the Family Conference Room needed taking out before a meeting I had scheduled. Before I could even ask environmental services about it, Wesley had already found a trash bag and taken care of it without me having to ask. Thankful for his service to the CCU and the palliative care team appreciate his compassionate care he provides during the most difficult times.