April 2012
Brooke
Veer
,
RN
Burn
Nebraska Medicine -Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha
,
NE
United States
We would like to nominate Brooke for the outstanding support and care she provided to a dying patient and his family. LE was a transfer patient received on the Burn Unit to receive a higher-level of care. He was recently re-diagnosed with cancer, and his breathing was deteriorating very rapidly. He was unable to maintain his oxygen saturation at an acceptable level without having a full facial machine on.
When Brooke came on for her day shift after his transfer, all involved were unsure of where he may be headed. He did not desire to be intubated, but just could not maintain his oxygenation. His wife, who was at his bedside the whole time, was very distraught. They had just 6 months ago learned he was cancer-free. She had children at home, she was a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, and what was she to do? Brooke was able to assess their needs and also their desires. Brooke provided care to keep him extubated and allow for them to make decisions that were important to him.
While in the room the patient asked Brooke, “What should I do?” “What would you do?” As healthcare professionals we are all posed these questions by family and patients, but it is so much more difficult to answer when you know that children are involved! Brooke’s honest and heartfelt response was something to the effect of… Do you want to be intubated and not be able to say goodbye or extubated and say what you will and enjoy the time you have? She did not influence him. In fact, she also mentioned that she wouldn’t know what her response would be if she wasn’t able to effectively breathe. It doesn’t matter what the patient decided, what matters is the fact Brooke supported her patient and provided him the opportunity he and his family chose.
Brooke has explained that his children came to visit, and while his wife was taking them home she noticed a decline in his condition and notified his wife. He was able to pass with his wife at his side, in a way that he chose. Brooke organized and managed the necessary consults, multiple phone calls and the emotional toll we all know it takes to help a patient die with dignity. Brooke cared for LE and his family for consecutive days, exhibiting the model example of extraordinary care and serious medicine.”
When Brooke came on for her day shift after his transfer, all involved were unsure of where he may be headed. He did not desire to be intubated, but just could not maintain his oxygenation. His wife, who was at his bedside the whole time, was very distraught. They had just 6 months ago learned he was cancer-free. She had children at home, she was a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, and what was she to do? Brooke was able to assess their needs and also their desires. Brooke provided care to keep him extubated and allow for them to make decisions that were important to him.
While in the room the patient asked Brooke, “What should I do?” “What would you do?” As healthcare professionals we are all posed these questions by family and patients, but it is so much more difficult to answer when you know that children are involved! Brooke’s honest and heartfelt response was something to the effect of… Do you want to be intubated and not be able to say goodbye or extubated and say what you will and enjoy the time you have? She did not influence him. In fact, she also mentioned that she wouldn’t know what her response would be if she wasn’t able to effectively breathe. It doesn’t matter what the patient decided, what matters is the fact Brooke supported her patient and provided him the opportunity he and his family chose.
Brooke has explained that his children came to visit, and while his wife was taking them home she noticed a decline in his condition and notified his wife. He was able to pass with his wife at his side, in a way that he chose. Brooke organized and managed the necessary consults, multiple phone calls and the emotional toll we all know it takes to help a patient die with dignity. Brooke cared for LE and his family for consecutive days, exhibiting the model example of extraordinary care and serious medicine.”