LAUREL HEUER, RN, GAGNON 3
An 86yr old gentleman was admitted for open heart surgery. This particular patient had a very unique family situation. His wife had passed away six years earlier and he had two adult sons with cerebral palsy.
As a family unit they needed each other desperately. The two men were dependent on their father for so many reasons. The men were ridden with fear that if anything happened to their father they would end up wards of the state. To make a long story short, Laurel, for most of the patient’s stay, went above and beyond the call of duty to identify all of the family’s collective needs to accommodate them in any way possible. She ensured that the patient was extremely well cared for as well as accommodating all of his sons’ needs during his stay on Gagnon 3- from the minute they arrived in the parking lot until they left for home. She ordered meals for the sons and assisted them with eating. She also helped to calm their fears by taking the time to explain everything that was happening. Even on the days she wasn’t the assigned to care for the patient, she still saw to it that the family needs were met.
In the end the patient did well and was moved to a rehab facility. The entire family was very grateful to her and has since been in touch to let her know his, as well as their, progress.