Imagine that you're walking around with stage four lung cancer that is so advanced when symptoms start to materialize it's too late for treatment. You're admitted to the CCU unit and doctors tell you that there are no treatment options and that the palliative care is the best option moving forward.
This is the story of a recent patient in the CCU unit. The entire CCU team gave unconditional support and love towards this patient and his family. It was a difficult situation to witness and our nurses were courageous in caring for our patient and the entire family.
Lindsey Jones took care of the patient several times and quickly realized that his condition was weakening, and he probably only had a few days remaining. She couldn't imagine him staying in an ICU room and not seeing the sky or smell the fresh air one last time before his passing. She convinced the intensivist to let her organize a care team to take the patient outside for one last time before going to the inpatient hospice unit at St. Vincent's Riverside.
Once approval was given, Lindsey worked closely with the entire team of physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and other nurses to take her patient outside. The move wasn't easy, but her patient had one last time to feel the warm air on his skin and the wind in his hair. These precious moments meant the world to her patient and his family. This was the last time he saw the outside before his passing.
It is because of Lindsey's courage and advocacy during her patient's final days that he was able to go outside, she will always be remembered in the hearts of her patient's family for the gift of love and the courage to take a risk on her patient's behalf. She went above and beyond for her patient and truly represents what all nurses should strive for.