My father was admitted to the hospital with severe sepsis and multi-organ dysfunction. As with many other facilities, most families are unable to visit and be with their loved ones during this pandemic. Many of us can only visit if we meet certain strict criteria, which is understandable, but which greatly adds to the deep sorrow and stress of it all. I was allowed to visit my father one time in the span of almost a month-long admission. The nurse I am nominating was my father's nightshift nurse in the ICU on that particular shift, and on multiple occasions thereafter.
Being a Med/Surg nurse myself, David helped explain many of the different drips to me and understand his train of thought in regards to my father's care. He didn't ever make me feel like I was bothering him, especially with the many times I asked him for lab values, or later when I would call in the night. After going through my questions and my own nursing checklist of concerns, I would ask if there was anything he thought I missed or that I should know, and he would explain what he thinks is happening and how he hopes to intervene or manage the concern.
On some days, I would drive to the hospital and just sit in the parking lot and pray. And then I thought, I wonder where his room is. I asked David where his room was located (because he had switched rooms since my initial visit), and he kindly taped papers on the windows so that I could find his room. It was such a small gesture, but it meant so much to me. I told myself when I go back to my own hospital as a nurse, I want to remember this level of empathy.
In a world of technology, I was so glad that we had the opportunity to do video calls with my father. To be honest, we don't even have this option at my own hospital. Because it was so busy during the day shift, I often had David (even if he was the resource nurse and not the primary) help us set up the iPad. It takes a few minutes, but he never made me feel like I was bothering him. I don't know if there was a restriction on how long we could talk to my dad, but David never made me feel like we were a hindrance. I would be on the iPad for quite some time with him, as my mother would watch Mass on the iPad with my dad, and then I would pray with him, my brother would talk to him, and I would talk to him some more, especially when we couldn't sleep because we were so worried about him. If the iPad ran out of battery, he would kindly replace the iPad.
I never once felt rushed by David, and he never made me feel bad for calling him (again). He always made sure my dad was cleaned up and had his hair nicely brushed for his iPad meetings with us, and I could tell his care stood out from others. I wish to commend him on being a wonderful nurse and for taking excellent care of my father. I cannot thank him enough. He would often tell me, "If it was me, I would be doing the same thing." I look up to him as a nurse and hope to emulate his kindness in my own nursing practices. I wish to thank him and the ICU team for their compassionate care. I would like him to know how much we appreciated his kindness. May the Lord, in His infinite goodness, bless you abundantly and remember your compassion toward my father and us all. Thank you.