April 2010
Terry
Hevener
,
RN
PACU
Prisma Health Richland Hospital
Columbia
,
SC
United States

 

 

 

Terry took care of a sixteen year old trauma patient who sustained injuries that she could not survive. The patient was admitted to the recovery room. The trauma team explained the situation to the family and they said their goodbyes and went home. Terry stayed at the bedside with the patient comforting her. She talked to her and explained her care. She held her hand and stroked her hair as she passed away. Terry is a very compassionate person. She called the patient by her name and treated her like a family member. She was very selfless and does not think that what she did was extraordinary but just what anyone in the same situation would do. She displays the same level of caring with all her patients.

Terry made sure that this patient maintained her dignity in her final moments and after death. When she took the body to the morgue, Terry made sure the person receiving the body knew that this was a loved young person who had been through a horrible tragedy. Terry provided the highest level of excellence as a professional nurse by following through with her promise to this patient that she would not die alone. Terry displayed her ever present honor and integrity by following through with her commitment to the profession of nursing and to the promise she made to this patient.