Kelley Tiemens
January 2022
Kelley
Tiemens
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
Cardiac Care Unit
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago
,
IL
United States
Kelley’s nursing efforts from the second she received report exemplified the mission of what it means to be a DAISY Nurse.
As families prepared their Thanksgiving meals and gave toasts among their loved ones, Kelley Tiemens selflessly extended her energy and compassion to a patient and their family as they faced their worst nightmare. The CCU admitted a young patient last week, whom was unexpectedly found unresponsive while working out. Unfortunately, given his poor prognosis, the family made the heart-breaking decision to withdraw care and pursue organ donation. The mother of the patient wanted to honor her son’s wishes of organ donation on Thanksgiving night, requiring a lot of coordination in a short time frame. Kelley’s nursing efforts from the second she received report exemplified the mission of what it means to be a DAISY nurse. From organizing care with Gift-of-Hope, giving every ounce of energy she had to ensure the patient would pass with dignity, advocating for the patient among the interdisciplinary team to keep him comfortable, personally walking the patient to the OR to harvest his organs, and to hugging the family as their world shattered gives a slight glimpse as to the kind of nurse Kelley is.
Not only did she extend herself with great compassion to the family, but also to the CCU team. Given the staffing shortages the hospital faced, as it was a holiday, there was worry that there may not be a nurse to cover the patient for their requested time of withdraw. Kelley volunteered without hesitation to stay by the patient’s side to ensure his last breaths would be honorable, and to meet his wishes of organ donation. She gave up her Thanksgiving dinner with her husband, to ensure the patient and his family were well taken care of.
Throughout Kelley’s shift, it was evident she was holding back tears, tears which represent the kind of nurse she is: a nurse that steps foot into a hospital not to just care for a patient, but to touch the lives of the suffering with sincerity and gratitude. It brings me great joy, as a DAISY Honoree myself, to work alongside a nurse that is committed to her patients and her profession.
Not only did she extend herself with great compassion to the family, but also to the CCU team. Given the staffing shortages the hospital faced, as it was a holiday, there was worry that there may not be a nurse to cover the patient for their requested time of withdraw. Kelley volunteered without hesitation to stay by the patient’s side to ensure his last breaths would be honorable, and to meet his wishes of organ donation. She gave up her Thanksgiving dinner with her husband, to ensure the patient and his family were well taken care of.
Throughout Kelley’s shift, it was evident she was holding back tears, tears which represent the kind of nurse she is: a nurse that steps foot into a hospital not to just care for a patient, but to touch the lives of the suffering with sincerity and gratitude. It brings me great joy, as a DAISY Honoree myself, to work alongside a nurse that is committed to her patients and her profession.