I want to take the time to acknowledge a fellow nurse. Over the weekend, we had a patient in TICU who presented to Metro by Life Flight after being in a serious MVC on Friday afternoon. Upon arrival, she was diagnosed with a fetal demise in the ED. She was 18yrs old, with her first baby at 38 weeks gestation. The patient had many rib fractures, pneumothorax, head bleed, and very bruised especially her belly.
I was in charge when she came in on Friday, so I was anxiously awaiting what Saturday would be like. Night shift started the induction process in the TICU. When I came on at 7 am on Saturday, I learned the patient went into DIC. She received most of blood bank's supply of clotting factors and FFP. When picking assignments, Judith volunteered in a room of nurses who were very ambivalent about going to the TICU. I was very appreciative of that. We all know how difficult that scenario was to jump into. Judith did it with compassion and experience.
The patient delivered around 9 am, a baby girl, 8 pounds, robust, and beautiful. Judith came down to Labor and Delivery with the grandma and the father of the baby to do the routine baby care. There was nothing routine about it to her. I assisted her with the hand and footprints, pictures, etc. Judith made the grandma feel so welcome and was so supportive. She talked with her and did everything with her input... down to what hat she liked best and giving her a burial gown. I was amazed by her composure and genuine concern for this family.
She made my job so much easier because I knew that someone very empathetic and seasoned was with this patient and this angel baby.
As a charge nurse, I think it is so important to acknowledge others when they go above and beyond.