Working in the PICU often means we have to deliver the horrible news that a parent's child isn't going to live. That is never easy, and it's even more difficult when we are battling time to tell the mother when she is a patient herself. We had this experience recently and I have to praise the nurses involved so that a mother could kiss and hold her baby as he died. The baby was declining quickly and the mother had just come out of surgery. The day shift team had talked to the nurses to see what they could work out. Staff was limited but Leanna McCoy from SIU stayed after her shift to bring this mom over as her son declined after being declared brain dead. Even more impressive is she wasn't her primary nurse for that day. She provided great compassionate care to her while she was with her son.
There was lots of discussion with the SIU charge RN and PCC as Leanne was scheduled to return work the next day, but taking the mom away was not the right or kind thing to do. Leanne stayed with this mom until almost 2300. She was phenomenal and had such a great attitude in caring for that mom and adapting to providing her care out of their element while she stayed with her son before and after he passed. I know that we nor the family can never express the gratitude we have for making this happen. It means so much to have that care and compassion provided for the whole family. Despite the heartbreaking ending of this situation, the unity and effort between our units I know will never be forgotten by the family.
Leanne certainly went above and beyond in providing family-centered care for our patients. Without her willingness to stay late this may not have happened when it needed to, or at all. We, as PICU nurses, are so grateful for Leanne's kindness and effort, and of course, her continued support of mom and she continued to heal from her physical injuries in the hospital.