Alex was amazing during an incredibly difficult Goals of Care (GOC) meeting with the attending, fellow, NP, SW, and patient’s two children. The children have a long history of conflicting relationships with the patient and one another. Decisions regarding goals of care were especially difficult for the patient’s son, who has many unresolved issues with the patient. In my 33 years as a social worker, I have never seen such a sad situation. Alex connected with the patient’s son prior to the GOC. He provided support and talked to him at length re: his relationship with his mother and sister and connected with him. Alex displayed compassion, respect, and empathy in a situation that seemed impossible. In the GOC, Alex educated the patient’s son about health care directives and the thought that goes into a health care directive in a way that the son could relate. He read the patient’s Health Care Directive to the son, and his description of the Health Care Directive and the education he provided was beautiful and eloquent.

I have worked with Alex for a while and always thought of him as an excellent nurse. What I saw today was special (I can’t come up with better words, but it kind of gave me chills). I believe that the son was able to better understand the patient’s wishes because of Alex’s contribution to the conversation. I am so happy that Alex contributed to the GOC, and I think that he made a positive impact on this family and our medical team.