July 2020
Sharelle
Larhue
,
RN
ICU
University of Maryland Medical Center, Midtown Campus
Baltimore
,
MD
United States
Sharelle LaRhue has been an amazing addition to Midtown ICU. Sharelle exhibits exceptional nursing skills and bedside care every shift she works, however, I want to highlight one specific day where her skills made a positive difference for her patient and her patient's family. Sharelle had a very busy nursing assignment as she was taking care of a critical COVID positive patient who was intubated and on CRRT. Sharelle worked all morning suited up with a PAPR on, side by side with the ICU team managing the sickest patient in the hospital. She did her very best and displayed excellent critical thinking skills. By the middle of the day, the family of her patient had made the choice to change the patient to comfort care. Sharelle arranged for the family to take part in their family member's last hours via Zoom conference call and met the family's emotional needs as best as she could. Due to restricted visits, the family was not able to sit at the bedside. Sharelle spoke to the family and explained the process and reassured them that the patient would be made comfortable. Sharelle stood by her patient's bedside through the entire dying process. She never left his side, she stayed in the negative pressure airborne isolation room for over 2 hours with a PAPR holding the dying patient's hand, giving him ice chips and playing soft quiet music. She ensured that the patient died comfortably with dignity and respect. Sharelle also was a support for the family as she consoled the family and included them in the entire process.