I received an email from an ER nurse who wanted to express her gratitude and appreciation for a nurse on B4.
They story began in the ED when a "special patient" with a poor prognosis was being admitted to B4, only to spend a few hours left of her life alone. Linda Hensel willingly and unselfishly accepted to take this patient knowing it was going to be a very delicate case. She spoke with the ED nurse on the phone and could tell that she had been emotionally exhausted and struggling to make sure the patient was not going to be left alone. Linda is the type of nurse who takes the worry out of the equation and places the patient first before anything else. Linda gave her reassurance to the ED nurse that she would not leave her alone to die, and that promise she truly kept. Upon arrival of the patient to the floor, Linda plus other B4 staff met the ED nurse and tech in the room. The ED nurse described in her email, "they went above and beyond to not only provide comfort measures and emotional support to the patient, but also to us. Their care and generosity did not go unnoticed."
I got a chance to candidly talk with Linda about her experience with the patient and the moments leading up to the death. She told me, "The patient didn't die alone, I was always by her side, and she died peacefully as I held her in my arms, sitting in the rocking chair, humming softly to her." She shared with me that it was heartbreaking to know this beautiful child died, but deep down inside she felt a sense of reward for being the one to be there for her when she was most needed. Even during this tough time, Linda still took the time and welcomed nurses who have never gone through this before with some moments of mentoring to ease them of their fears and apprehensions.
I nominate Linda Hensel for the DAISY Award because she clearly depicts professional nursing excellence through clinical expertise as a bedside nurse, her amazing wisdom and compassion for giving care not only to her patients, but also to her colleagues.