A few months back we had a young man on 3N that was in and out of the hospital many times and everyone had taken care of him. He would get better and then deteriorate again. We all watched as his condition did not improve to the point he needed to be intubated and placed in the ICU. He required a lot of care with extensive wounds and pain issues. The pts father and sister were always present, worried, and needed a lot of TLC.

JT established a special bond with the patient and his family while caring for him. Not only was she there to help care for the patient but she constantly talked with and checked on his family making sure they were taking care of themselves. She always checked on the patient whether she was his nurse or not. She was an advocate for the family and took time to answer their questions and offer emotional support.

While the patient was in the ICU, it appeared that he most likely would not survive. JT spent time talking with the family about end of life measures. When the decision was made to extubate the patient and allow him to pass, JT was not scheduled to work. She went to the team leader to ask if she could come in on her day off and be present with the patient and family when the tube was removed. She came in that day and sat with the family holding their hands and comforting them, ensuring that no matter what happened she was there. The patient did not immediately pass and was kept comfortable until the time came.

The family expressed such gratitude of the care JT provided. She was a great comfort to them and in my opinion demonstrates the values and mission of this hospital.