May 2016
Chelley
Schwigen
,
RN
CVICU
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
Portland
,
OR
United States
Chelley was taking care of a critically ill gentleman, who was in the ICU with acute chronic heart failure. He was on multiple pressers, intubated, and was in critical condition. She barely left the room the first night she took care of him, and the next night, he was even more unstable. While she was working to keep him alive, his family decided to withdraw support and transition to comfort care. The family didn't stay. Within minutes, Chelley went from trying to save his life, to providing him with a comfortable death. She sat by his bedside, holding his hand while he took his last breath. This level of care was amazing to watch. Her dedication to his life and then his death truly shows what an amazing nurse Chelley is.