Christa Rich
February 2022
Christa
Rich
,
RN, BSN
5 West
Riley Hospital for Children
Indianapolis
,
IN
United States
She made sure the care he received was not just nursing tasks but also incorporated activities to make him feel like an 8-year-old. She played with him in the playroom, walked around the unit with him while he rode his bike, and ensured that he was living as normal of a life as possible during his hospitalization.
Christa has worked with an extremely vulnerable population for about 5 years now. Hemonc nurses have a special type of "superpower" and it is very obvious that Christa is one of those unique and extraordinary nurses that deliver the absolute best care to patients and families during one of the most difficult times of their lives--their child being diagnosed with cancer.
Recently, one of Christa's primary patients had to be transferred to the pediatric ICU related to his critical condition. During his stay in the ICU, the parents made many comments related to the hemonc unit and how the care there was absolutely amazing. Dad and mom had another kiddo and also had work responsibilities during his very long and aggressive treatment, and Christa took the initiative to be one of his primary nurses (meaning that each shift she worked, she would be the nurse caring for him). Based on what the parents said, that was one of the most comforting experiences they endured during their son's stay.
I want to say, first and foremost, it is not an easy decision to become a primary on a patient with a guarded prognosis both knowing that their stay will be lengthy and the outcome may not be in their favor. As a nurse with a patient who does not make it, there are numerous feelings of emotion and grief. As a person knowing their calling is nursing, becoming emotionally involved with these kiddos is a part of the job and quite possibly one of the hardest parts of being a nurse. Christa is a nurse that can put her feelings aside and fight for kids when they can't always fight for themselves. One of the most comforting feelings to a parent is knowing the nurse caring for your child brings them a sense of peace when they can't always be at the bedside. The nurse who is consistently with a patient knows them similarly to a parent and can advocate for them when their caregivers are unable to be there because, unfortunately, life has to go on (work responsibilities, other children, paying bills, etc).
Christa was a huge parent in this family's ability to help life go on, and that is something I feel deserves recognition. As nurses, we must set boundaries in place but that doesn't take away the ability for us to provide care in extraordinary ways. Christa was a huge part of this patient's life during his very aggressive cancer treatment and made his few months before passing the absolute best they could've been in a hospital. She made sure the care he received was not just nursing tasks but also incorporated activities to make him feel like an 8-year-old. She played with him in the playroom, walked around the unit with him while he rode his bike, and ensured that he was living as normal of a life as possible during his hospitalization. Not all nurses have the "superpower" to work beyond the tasks of what they are expected, and Christa is one of those nurses. Christa deserves to be recognized for the outstanding compassionate care she delivers to her patients and families. I hope you can help me recognize her achievements by choosing her to be the DAISY Award winner.
Recently, one of Christa's primary patients had to be transferred to the pediatric ICU related to his critical condition. During his stay in the ICU, the parents made many comments related to the hemonc unit and how the care there was absolutely amazing. Dad and mom had another kiddo and also had work responsibilities during his very long and aggressive treatment, and Christa took the initiative to be one of his primary nurses (meaning that each shift she worked, she would be the nurse caring for him). Based on what the parents said, that was one of the most comforting experiences they endured during their son's stay.
I want to say, first and foremost, it is not an easy decision to become a primary on a patient with a guarded prognosis both knowing that their stay will be lengthy and the outcome may not be in their favor. As a nurse with a patient who does not make it, there are numerous feelings of emotion and grief. As a person knowing their calling is nursing, becoming emotionally involved with these kiddos is a part of the job and quite possibly one of the hardest parts of being a nurse. Christa is a nurse that can put her feelings aside and fight for kids when they can't always fight for themselves. One of the most comforting feelings to a parent is knowing the nurse caring for your child brings them a sense of peace when they can't always be at the bedside. The nurse who is consistently with a patient knows them similarly to a parent and can advocate for them when their caregivers are unable to be there because, unfortunately, life has to go on (work responsibilities, other children, paying bills, etc).
Christa was a huge parent in this family's ability to help life go on, and that is something I feel deserves recognition. As nurses, we must set boundaries in place but that doesn't take away the ability for us to provide care in extraordinary ways. Christa was a huge part of this patient's life during his very aggressive cancer treatment and made his few months before passing the absolute best they could've been in a hospital. She made sure the care he received was not just nursing tasks but also incorporated activities to make him feel like an 8-year-old. She played with him in the playroom, walked around the unit with him while he rode his bike, and ensured that he was living as normal of a life as possible during his hospitalization. Not all nurses have the "superpower" to work beyond the tasks of what they are expected, and Christa is one of those nurses. Christa deserves to be recognized for the outstanding compassionate care she delivers to her patients and families. I hope you can help me recognize her achievements by choosing her to be the DAISY Award winner.