Rachelle Scott
April 2023
Rachelle
Scott
,
MSN, RN
Wendel 1
Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital
Charlottesville
,
VA
United States
She would lovingly joke with my mother and although unconscious, I know my mother could feel her kindness, warmth, and love.
Rachelle is so sweet and goes above and beyond for her patients. My dad really wanted some m&m's when he was first able to eat normal food. She went all over the hospital to get some for him because he has come so far with his therapy and progress. She really understands how mental health affects physical health. And how being loving and positive can help someone heal.
***
Our family had the privilege of getting to know Rachelle Scott during my mom’s time in the ICU at Martha Jefferson. During that time, Rachelle showed tremendous professionalism, kindness, and love to my mother and our entire family. What we thought would be a quick 24-48 hour stay post removal of a meningioma turned into a 22-day hospital ordeal which ultimately ended in my mother's death.
Our ICU visit started shortly before Christmas and lasted into the New Year. As my mother’s condition continued to deteriorate, this meant our family spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and my father’s birthday in the ICU grappling with the unknown and tremendous grief. Rachelle made this extremely difficult time a bit brighter for each of us. Rachelle was our nurse on numerous occasions. As a result, she came to learn who my mother was as a person, not just a patient. Rachelle understood the fact that mom was active and volunteered in church, that she knitted and quilted prayer shawls and lap quilts for those in the hospital, and that she walked 5 miles daily with my dad and their dogs. While giving medicines or rotating my mother in bed, Rachelle would speak to my mother lovingly about these activities. She would also gently tell my mother what was occurring. She would lovingly joke with my mother and although unconscious, I know my mother could feel her kindness, warmth, and love.
Rachelle was thoughtful in her nursing. In an effort to provide minimal disruptions to my mother, Rachelle planned the nursing care on a 2-hour schedule so that the neuro checks, meds, and bed rotation were all done at once versus spread out over two hours. This was a huge benefit to my mom and reduced her anxiety, allowing her to be as peaceful as possible in her last days. This also allowed our family to spend as much uninterrupted time as possible with our Mom.
During Christmas Rachelle played Christmas music for us on the computer, as she knew it was my mom’s favorite type of music. She would open the blinds daily and describe the weather, as she knew my mom loved nature and the birds. Rachelle also did a good job of educating our family about what was occurring medically. This type of intentional nursing made this devastating time much easier.
Not only did Rachelle treat my mother with professionalism, kindness, and love, but she also nursed our entire family. She learned about my father and the love he had for our mom, their 51 years of marriage, and the family dogs. She learned the family sense of humor and would join in our jokes. Rachelle encouraged all of us to take care of ourselves. This included encouraging us to eat a meal. As my father walks daily at home, she suggested we use the trails and take walks after lunch. She gently encouraged my father to go home to sleep in his own bed after a long day. If we were feeling overwhelmed by difficult news and the realization of our situation, she would encourage us to take a break and walk the halls or visit the caregiver center. This is not just exceptional nursing care, this is exceptional family care.
We will forever be grateful for Rachelle’s love for her job, seeing patients for who they are as humans, nursing patients and families, her kindness, and her professionalism.
***
Our family had the privilege of getting to know Rachelle Scott during my mom’s time in the ICU at Martha Jefferson. During that time, Rachelle showed tremendous professionalism, kindness, and love to my mother and our entire family. What we thought would be a quick 24-48 hour stay post removal of a meningioma turned into a 22-day hospital ordeal which ultimately ended in my mother's death.
Our ICU visit started shortly before Christmas and lasted into the New Year. As my mother’s condition continued to deteriorate, this meant our family spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and my father’s birthday in the ICU grappling with the unknown and tremendous grief. Rachelle made this extremely difficult time a bit brighter for each of us. Rachelle was our nurse on numerous occasions. As a result, she came to learn who my mother was as a person, not just a patient. Rachelle understood the fact that mom was active and volunteered in church, that she knitted and quilted prayer shawls and lap quilts for those in the hospital, and that she walked 5 miles daily with my dad and their dogs. While giving medicines or rotating my mother in bed, Rachelle would speak to my mother lovingly about these activities. She would also gently tell my mother what was occurring. She would lovingly joke with my mother and although unconscious, I know my mother could feel her kindness, warmth, and love.
Rachelle was thoughtful in her nursing. In an effort to provide minimal disruptions to my mother, Rachelle planned the nursing care on a 2-hour schedule so that the neuro checks, meds, and bed rotation were all done at once versus spread out over two hours. This was a huge benefit to my mom and reduced her anxiety, allowing her to be as peaceful as possible in her last days. This also allowed our family to spend as much uninterrupted time as possible with our Mom.
During Christmas Rachelle played Christmas music for us on the computer, as she knew it was my mom’s favorite type of music. She would open the blinds daily and describe the weather, as she knew my mom loved nature and the birds. Rachelle also did a good job of educating our family about what was occurring medically. This type of intentional nursing made this devastating time much easier.
Not only did Rachelle treat my mother with professionalism, kindness, and love, but she also nursed our entire family. She learned about my father and the love he had for our mom, their 51 years of marriage, and the family dogs. She learned the family sense of humor and would join in our jokes. Rachelle encouraged all of us to take care of ourselves. This included encouraging us to eat a meal. As my father walks daily at home, she suggested we use the trails and take walks after lunch. She gently encouraged my father to go home to sleep in his own bed after a long day. If we were feeling overwhelmed by difficult news and the realization of our situation, she would encourage us to take a break and walk the halls or visit the caregiver center. This is not just exceptional nursing care, this is exceptional family care.
We will forever be grateful for Rachelle’s love for her job, seeing patients for who they are as humans, nursing patients and families, her kindness, and her professionalism.