July 2022
Marisol
Balderas
,
BSN, RN
2N Neuro and Medical Unit
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington
,
IL
United States
Marisol reached out to the charge nurse but was told it was too late in the day to arrange a discharge. She did not let this stop her.
Marisol was caring for a patient whose family was deciding to transition to hospice care. The nephew informed her that hospice did not have enough staff so the family would have to wait 2 days to have the meeting. The nephew was very upset and told Marisol the family wanted the patient to come home so that she could pass with her husband by her side. Marisol offered the husband to come to the hospital, but found out that he had a recent fall and sustained a neck fracture. He is now wheelchair-bound and unable to go down the stairs in his home. Marisol reached out to the charge nurse but was told it was too late in the day to arrange a discharge. She did not let this stop her. She contacted the doctor and explained the story. With an hour left in her shift, she arranged the discharge. Marisol explained to the nephew there would not be any nursing support at home since the patient had not been admitted to hospice and he would need to call 911 once the patient passed. The nephew was fine with this and was just happy the patient could come home. Marisol's compassion truly made a difference to this family.