May 2021
Jennifer
Rooney
,
RN
Hospice Unit
Maine VA Healthcare System
AUGUSTA
,
ME
United States
Jen was always interested in our concerns and needs.
Jen was the lead nurse last Monday at the Hospice Care Unit, and she made an incredibly positive difference in the lives of both our family members/Veterans and those of us that were with him in his last hours of life. As a family member, it would be easier for me to just leave unremarked the amazing care that R received on that day. I cannot help but remember how much sympathy and compassion was provided to us as family members, and this compels me to advocate for Jen as DAISY Nurse; she is incredible.
R arrived at the Hospice Unit in an unconscious state, with loud labored breathing; everyone fully knew his grave terminal illness would allow his remaining time to be measured in hours, not weeks or days. His care and treatment such as it were, was almost exclusively to the benefit of the family who maintained vigil with R until the end. It was us more than R that was comforted, who were accommodated, who was attentively attended to. And we are all so very appreciative that we were.
For example, upon arrival to the unit, R was bathed and given a clean shave so as to provide an appropriate appearance for those of us with him and those expected to visit. This simple act would have been greatly appreciated by R, a traditional man, and was appreciated and noted by his family.
Despite his physical state when he arrived on the Hospice Unit R was not unfamiliar with the Togus VA; he had been an employee there for over fifteen years, after completing his Naval career. Togus is intimately familiar with our family, which makes us all the more proud of the care he received from Jen in Hospice. The Togus Hospice Unit treats our military Veterans properly, even exceptionally so. As family members of a terminally ill military Veteran (and hero to us in his family), we lacked for nothing. We were constantly selflessly cared for, without complaint, and with compassion. We had a large contingent of family and friends visiting in R's last hours and all remarked how great the care was for R and for us in our time of grief.
Importantly, Jen was always interested in our concerns and needs. She explained clearly, but with warmth and kindness, what to expect and what to look for with R and his time in the unit. When R was very near death it was Jen who provided final palliative care to ease his transition from life. After his passing, it was Jen that prepared R for a final bedside service and stood by us in our grief. She never wavered, always showing sympathy, understanding, tenderness, and compassion. Her "bedside manner" and composure added a measure of help and hope for us. (Thank you for that, Jen.)
The word compassion is defined as to suffer with someone or something. I did not know Patrick Barnes who dies too young, and R lived long enough to have two full lives at 87; what these men have in common is "they were impressed by the care and compassion" their nurses provided and this is exactly precisely our experience. Jen has compassion and she suffers with her patients and their families who are in her care; it is obvious and it shows and it's truly amazing to see firsthand. Jen is a credit to the Hospice unit, that much you already know but to those of us part of the larger Togus family it is important to have been cared for by Jen, to know how well our Veterans are treated at the very end of their lives. She is a credit to the entire institution and larger VA. It is heartening to have witnessed Jen's care for our military Veterans - accordingly it is appropriate that she receive the DAISY Award for extraordinary Nurses.
R arrived at the Hospice Unit in an unconscious state, with loud labored breathing; everyone fully knew his grave terminal illness would allow his remaining time to be measured in hours, not weeks or days. His care and treatment such as it were, was almost exclusively to the benefit of the family who maintained vigil with R until the end. It was us more than R that was comforted, who were accommodated, who was attentively attended to. And we are all so very appreciative that we were.
For example, upon arrival to the unit, R was bathed and given a clean shave so as to provide an appropriate appearance for those of us with him and those expected to visit. This simple act would have been greatly appreciated by R, a traditional man, and was appreciated and noted by his family.
Despite his physical state when he arrived on the Hospice Unit R was not unfamiliar with the Togus VA; he had been an employee there for over fifteen years, after completing his Naval career. Togus is intimately familiar with our family, which makes us all the more proud of the care he received from Jen in Hospice. The Togus Hospice Unit treats our military Veterans properly, even exceptionally so. As family members of a terminally ill military Veteran (and hero to us in his family), we lacked for nothing. We were constantly selflessly cared for, without complaint, and with compassion. We had a large contingent of family and friends visiting in R's last hours and all remarked how great the care was for R and for us in our time of grief.
Importantly, Jen was always interested in our concerns and needs. She explained clearly, but with warmth and kindness, what to expect and what to look for with R and his time in the unit. When R was very near death it was Jen who provided final palliative care to ease his transition from life. After his passing, it was Jen that prepared R for a final bedside service and stood by us in our grief. She never wavered, always showing sympathy, understanding, tenderness, and compassion. Her "bedside manner" and composure added a measure of help and hope for us. (Thank you for that, Jen.)
The word compassion is defined as to suffer with someone or something. I did not know Patrick Barnes who dies too young, and R lived long enough to have two full lives at 87; what these men have in common is "they were impressed by the care and compassion" their nurses provided and this is exactly precisely our experience. Jen has compassion and she suffers with her patients and their families who are in her care; it is obvious and it shows and it's truly amazing to see firsthand. Jen is a credit to the Hospice unit, that much you already know but to those of us part of the larger Togus family it is important to have been cared for by Jen, to know how well our Veterans are treated at the very end of their lives. She is a credit to the entire institution and larger VA. It is heartening to have witnessed Jen's care for our military Veterans - accordingly it is appropriate that she receive the DAISY Award for extraordinary Nurses.