Allison Herrmann
July 2020
Allison
Herrmann
,
RN
Med/Surg ICU
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
St. Louis
,
MO
United States
Allison was caring for a patient in the COVID unit who was very ill. The family decided to transition to comfort measures, a very difficult decision at any time, but especially during these times when family is not allowed to be with/visit their loved ones. The family decided not to come up to the hospital because of health concerns/reasons. Allison assured them that she would not let their dad/grandfather/great-grandfather pass alone. She told them she would stay by his side and keep him as comfortable as possible until he passed.
Allison gathered his supplies, donned her PPE, and went into the patient's room. I was surprised when I passed the room more than an hour later and Allison was still in the room, donned in all her PPE, sitting right next to the patient's bedside in a chair she had pulled up, holding his hands and speaking words of comfort. At this moment, Allison reminded me of the power of compassionate care and being a nurse, something to inspire us all.
***
I am writing to express my gratitude to your nursing staff as well as the hospitalist physicians that cared for my father who passed of the COVID-19 virus. He entered through the ED because of a fall but very quickly was diagnosed with the virus. He was 101 (a few months short of being 102) years of age and lived in an assisted by which he was the first diagnosed with the virus. Even though he was 101 he was cognitively very sharp. As Dr. D said to me after meeting my father, "Your father is a hoot!" And he was! They must have had a good conversation during the admission.
On Wednesday, Allison was his nurse. This is the day he passed away and there are not enough words to express the compassion and respect that she gave me over the phone since I could not be with him. More importantly, I have no doubt this is the same compassion and respect that was given to my father. The tone of her voice and the chosen words were very comforting.
I was able to live stream with my father and say goodbye as were his grandchildren. In a very difficult time, Allison made it a comforting memory. She was so willing to stay as long as I wanted. She assured me he would not pass away by himself. She would be right there holding his hand. And she was!
I am a retired nurse and worked at Mercy for 32 years. I always knew Mercy was a place of compassion caring and respect. During this difficult time, I experienced this firsthand. Please acknowledge your wonderful staff with a big thank you. They are the best!
Allison gathered his supplies, donned her PPE, and went into the patient's room. I was surprised when I passed the room more than an hour later and Allison was still in the room, donned in all her PPE, sitting right next to the patient's bedside in a chair she had pulled up, holding his hands and speaking words of comfort. At this moment, Allison reminded me of the power of compassionate care and being a nurse, something to inspire us all.
***
I am writing to express my gratitude to your nursing staff as well as the hospitalist physicians that cared for my father who passed of the COVID-19 virus. He entered through the ED because of a fall but very quickly was diagnosed with the virus. He was 101 (a few months short of being 102) years of age and lived in an assisted by which he was the first diagnosed with the virus. Even though he was 101 he was cognitively very sharp. As Dr. D said to me after meeting my father, "Your father is a hoot!" And he was! They must have had a good conversation during the admission.
On Wednesday, Allison was his nurse. This is the day he passed away and there are not enough words to express the compassion and respect that she gave me over the phone since I could not be with him. More importantly, I have no doubt this is the same compassion and respect that was given to my father. The tone of her voice and the chosen words were very comforting.
I was able to live stream with my father and say goodbye as were his grandchildren. In a very difficult time, Allison made it a comforting memory. She was so willing to stay as long as I wanted. She assured me he would not pass away by himself. She would be right there holding his hand. And she was!
I am a retired nurse and worked at Mercy for 32 years. I always knew Mercy was a place of compassion caring and respect. During this difficult time, I experienced this firsthand. Please acknowledge your wonderful staff with a big thank you. They are the best!