Callie Waters
May 2024
Callie
Waters
,
BSN, RN
Pavilion 4
Spartanburg Medical Center
Spartanburg
,
SC
United States
Callie was there to give this man, who was actively dying, some comfort and peace. I think she could see in his eyes that he was scared and needed somebody with him, and she recognized that "unspoken" need.
Being an ICU RN can sometimes make us a bit "calloused.” We see death daily, sometimes even multiple times in one shift. Not to mention, the work/charting that is involved in taking care of a critically ill patient on our unit can be overwhelming, and the "human" side of it can sometimes get lost, not intentionally, of course.
We had a patient who had been on our unit for several weeks. He had an extensive, prolonged illness. He had sustained cardiac arrest several times (4 to be exact). Every time he was extubated, he would, after some time, develop respiratory distress and again need mechanical ventilation. This happened multiple times.
The last night he was in the hospital, the plan was to extubate him again. A DNR was firmly established by the son. I discussed our intent to extubate with the son and the plans for the evening. This nurse was there to hear the conversation. The son knew that his father was nearing the end of his fight and that God would be calling him soon. I offered for the son to stay, but he couldn't bring himself to go into the room. He said he couldn't see him like that. This nurse stayed and talked with the son for a bit, giving him some peace before he left. We all knew that it was only a matter of time.
The patient was extubated. He was awake and able to say his name and answer simple questions. But he was very weak, and his vitals were tenuous. The patient’s sister came to visit and pray with him. This nurse was right there to explain the current medical treatments and the severity of his illness.
When I came around a few hours later to check on him, this nurse had a chair in the room and she was sitting at his bedside with some music playing, just holding his hand. I was so touched by her show of kindness toward her patient. She was there to give this man, who was actively dying, some comfort and peace. I think she could see in his eyes that he was scared and needed somebody with him, and she recognized that "unspoken" need.
The patient did pass away later that morning (day shift) after this nurse left. But, at least for me, I am reassured by the comfort that was provided to him by his nurse on his last night here on this earth.
We had a patient who had been on our unit for several weeks. He had an extensive, prolonged illness. He had sustained cardiac arrest several times (4 to be exact). Every time he was extubated, he would, after some time, develop respiratory distress and again need mechanical ventilation. This happened multiple times.
The last night he was in the hospital, the plan was to extubate him again. A DNR was firmly established by the son. I discussed our intent to extubate with the son and the plans for the evening. This nurse was there to hear the conversation. The son knew that his father was nearing the end of his fight and that God would be calling him soon. I offered for the son to stay, but he couldn't bring himself to go into the room. He said he couldn't see him like that. This nurse stayed and talked with the son for a bit, giving him some peace before he left. We all knew that it was only a matter of time.
The patient was extubated. He was awake and able to say his name and answer simple questions. But he was very weak, and his vitals were tenuous. The patient’s sister came to visit and pray with him. This nurse was right there to explain the current medical treatments and the severity of his illness.
When I came around a few hours later to check on him, this nurse had a chair in the room and she was sitting at his bedside with some music playing, just holding his hand. I was so touched by her show of kindness toward her patient. She was there to give this man, who was actively dying, some comfort and peace. I think she could see in his eyes that he was scared and needed somebody with him, and she recognized that "unspoken" need.
The patient did pass away later that morning (day shift) after this nurse left. But, at least for me, I am reassured by the comfort that was provided to him by his nurse on his last night here on this earth.