April 2014
Dawna
Delong
,
RN
ICU
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
Glendale
,
AZ
United States
We had a patient in our unit. After several about a week of the patient being there, the husband asks the nurse if she knows where the patient's clothes are. The nurse did what she could but no clothes were found. She felt bad and the husband seemed to panic and she came to get me. I went into the room to talk with the husband and the daughter was there. When talking with the husband he definitely seemed concerned to find the clothing. Since the pt had been there almost a week it seemed a bit odd that we are worried now but his concern was real and I informed him my plan to find the articles. Note...the pt was taken from her trailer to Del Webb Hospital and then transported to BTMC. While we talked I identified it wasn't necessarily the clothing items but what was in the pockets. The patient kept a rosary in her pocket and also wore a scapula. I asked him to describe and he did. I informed him I would keep him in the loop. When sharing this information with the night manager, Dawna Delong she felt compelled to help. When I described the items, I could tell she was getting excited and coming up with a plan. Another note... Dawna is a devoted Catholic. She told me that she had a rosary that was blessed and she would go home and get it. She also told me she had a scapula (one very much like her mom wore) that was very similar to the one the husband described at home and would bring that too. When Dawna returned we brought the items to the husband, daughter and patient and presented them in a way that was special and not just that we were replacing the lost items. The husband started to get teary and hugged her. It was very special to see that bringing in these items, sharing their faith and the connection made with the family she didn't even know was amazing.