Mindy Ledford with her Clinical Director, Stacie Feldmayer
August 2014
Mindy
Ledford
,
BSN, RN
ICU Stepdown
Methodist North Hospital
Memphis
,
TN
United States
The Patient, Ms A, had been admitted and treated in response to an episode of chest pain. The referral for Spiritual Care to visit was a response to the fact that Ms A's Son had died during the week previous to her admission. The referral was intended to offer pastoral support for Ms A in her grief at the death of her Son.
As I spoke with Ms A, I became aware very soon that she was a person for whom faith is very important. She was very appreciative of my presence, and of the care and concern of everyone who has been involved in her care. I am writing about this visit because of the story Ms A told me about one of her Nurses.
Ms A told me she was feeling very sad and broken-hearted when she was admitted to the hospital. She had buried her Son one day, and she was admitted to the hospital the next day. She was treated, and apparently was recovering acceptably well when she was transferred to the Stepdown Unit.
According to Ms A, her Nurse on the first night in the Stepdown Unit was Mindy Ledford. Ms A told me that Mindy had been so kind and attentive when she first met Ms A, who was still, at that point, hurting for her Son. Mindy was sensitive to Ms A's grief. Apparently Mindy gave time and attention to Ms A, listening to Ms A telling the story of her Son's life, and of his death. Ms A said Mindy offered to pray with Ms A, and Ms A welcomed the prayer. Ms A said that when that prayer ended, she felt "different." In Ms A's perception, Mindy's prayer helped Ms A to move away from an emotional/spiritual place focused on grieving, and to move to a place where she could return to "living."
Ms A said that she has been improving and doing well since that day, and that her Physician has told her that she will probably be discharged to home today.
Ms A said that Mindy was her "angel." Later in our conversation Ms A said that she had many angels while she was on the Stepdown Unit, and she was grateful for all of them. But Mindy was her "special angel," and Ms A is very grateful for Mindy's caring and her sensitivity, and also for her willingness to take a minute to stop, and listen, and pray with someone who was hurting.
I am glad that Ms A received the medical and spiritual care she needed. I am grateful for Mindy's care for Ms A, and I wanted others to know of her good work.
As I spoke with Ms A, I became aware very soon that she was a person for whom faith is very important. She was very appreciative of my presence, and of the care and concern of everyone who has been involved in her care. I am writing about this visit because of the story Ms A told me about one of her Nurses.
Ms A told me she was feeling very sad and broken-hearted when she was admitted to the hospital. She had buried her Son one day, and she was admitted to the hospital the next day. She was treated, and apparently was recovering acceptably well when she was transferred to the Stepdown Unit.
According to Ms A, her Nurse on the first night in the Stepdown Unit was Mindy Ledford. Ms A told me that Mindy had been so kind and attentive when she first met Ms A, who was still, at that point, hurting for her Son. Mindy was sensitive to Ms A's grief. Apparently Mindy gave time and attention to Ms A, listening to Ms A telling the story of her Son's life, and of his death. Ms A said Mindy offered to pray with Ms A, and Ms A welcomed the prayer. Ms A said that when that prayer ended, she felt "different." In Ms A's perception, Mindy's prayer helped Ms A to move away from an emotional/spiritual place focused on grieving, and to move to a place where she could return to "living."
Ms A said that she has been improving and doing well since that day, and that her Physician has told her that she will probably be discharged to home today.
Ms A said that Mindy was her "angel." Later in our conversation Ms A said that she had many angels while she was on the Stepdown Unit, and she was grateful for all of them. But Mindy was her "special angel," and Ms A is very grateful for Mindy's caring and her sensitivity, and also for her willingness to take a minute to stop, and listen, and pray with someone who was hurting.
I am glad that Ms A received the medical and spiritual care she needed. I am grateful for Mindy's care for Ms A, and I wanted others to know of her good work.