Chris Winn began his shift to take care of my stepdad who had been admitted to hospice but remained in the hospital until he could be considered tranquil enough to be transported to a facility. However, he kept stirring and becoming agitated and clearly in pain almost every hour. Chris considered our observations. My stepdad seemed to need to go to the bathroom, and even though he remained unconscious we could tell. Chris scanned his bladder and determined it was full. My stepdad settled immediately once Chris gave him a Foley. Chris communicated his concerns about how many times we’ve had to call to get extra pain medication administered, even though he validated the necessity for them. 

Chris determined the PCA rate should be raised to accommodate the extra pain doses to prioritize his comfort. Meanwhile, the veins for both his IVs and the port for his pump blew at the same time. He was not getting his pain medicine, becoming more agitated, and would not stay still enough to replace them. Chris showed tenacity, and calmness and incorporated lots of teamwork in his multiple attempts - which took almost three hours. Chris communicated to us effectively, with compassion and understanding of what his intentions, expectations, and results were; all while taking into account our observations and hopes for my stepdad's care. While in the hospital for five days we met all nurses, aides, and staff – Chris exceeded all expectations! We genuinely feel if he had not been on shift when my stepdad's veins blew, an already distressing experience could have been a much more harrowing disaster. 

Overall, Chris was able to make my stepdad tranquil and comfortable when no one else had. We know “end-of-life care” is not his specialty but he seemed to be the first of the staff who prioritized my stepdad's comfort while taking into account the orders on file and keeping within all expectations of doctors, family, and hospice. NWCH is lucky to have Chris!