July 2017
Brittney
Curle
,
MSN, RN
Resource Pool
Sentara Obici Hospital
Suffolk
,
VA
United States
Brittney was caring for a patient who had just had knee replacement surgery and was ready to discharge from the hospital to a rehab facility. While preparing the patient for discharge, Brittney learned that the patient's husband was currently a patient in our ICU who was critically ill and deteriorating rapidly. The family had not explained the husband's declining condition to Brittney's patient until the day that she was to discharge. Something in Brittney's gut was telling her to get her patient over to see her husband of 50+ years, but she knew she didn't have enough time to arrange this visit before the medical transport team was scheduled to arrive to take her to the rehab facility. Feeling a strong need to advocate for both of these patients, Brittney expressed her concern to the transport team and made arrangements for them to take her patient to the ICU on their way out to allow her to visit with her husband for what they suspected would be the last time. Brittney accompanied the transport team and the patient to the ICU and was there to see the patient hold his hand and be with him for a few moments and most importantly to her, she was able to tell him that she loved him. He tried to open his eyes when he heard her voice. Brittney's patient then looked up and told her she was ready to go and that she wanted to let him rest. A few days later, Brittney learned that the husband had been discharged home to hospice care and had passed away in the driveway arriving at his home. Brittney's compassion and empathy will never be forgotten by this patient and her family!