Nicole Callaghan
April 2023
Nicole
Callaghan
,
RN
Intensive Care Unit
Ascension Saint Alexius in Hoffman Estates
Hoffman Estates
,
IL
United States
We didn't know what to do or how hospice works, and without Nichole, the awfulness of this situation would have been unthinkable.
We're well acquainted with mortality; it holds few surprises for us. But the approach of an inevitable outcome, or the sudden stillness of another's heart, will always leave us feeling a bit shaken, if only in our minds. And while we might wish to take a moment, our mission remains, and there's still work to be done on behalf of that patient; work that calls for a delicate balance of competence, comportment, and comfort. The family of a patient who recently passed her last breath in our ICU unit believes Nichole Callaghan, R.N., demonstrated all those qualities and more, and they've asked that she be honored with a DAISY Award. We agree that her worthiness is beyond question.
The family's 83-year-old mother developed an infection and acute kidney failure following a fall that had fractured her pelvis. She's been rushed to the ER and quickly transferred to the ICU, where the entire team, including Nichole, worked tirelessly to bring her out of her critical condition. The patient rallied, took a turn for the worse, then slipped into an irreversible decline. Reeling from an unexpected chain of events that culminated so rapidly, the family now faced the agonizing decision of transitioning their mother into hospice care.
The heartbreak of this final chapter was unavoidable, but the family describes the profound difference Nichole made during such a trying time: "Our heads were spinning; we'd never been through an experience like this. We didn't know what to do or how hospice works, and without Nichole, the awfulness of this situation would have been unthinkable. Even as she faithfully tended to our mom during her final hours, Nichole looked after all of us with the gentlest of care and grace. She guided us through an ordeal that might have otherwise been unbearable, and for that, we're forever grateful."
Easing the stress and sorrow of a patient's passing in any measure is part of our duty to care. In helping their loved ones, we find one more way to honor the patient. It's the very least we can do, and Nichole was at her very best. Her actions spoke for us all, and she did it right. We, too, are forever grateful.
The family's 83-year-old mother developed an infection and acute kidney failure following a fall that had fractured her pelvis. She's been rushed to the ER and quickly transferred to the ICU, where the entire team, including Nichole, worked tirelessly to bring her out of her critical condition. The patient rallied, took a turn for the worse, then slipped into an irreversible decline. Reeling from an unexpected chain of events that culminated so rapidly, the family now faced the agonizing decision of transitioning their mother into hospice care.
The heartbreak of this final chapter was unavoidable, but the family describes the profound difference Nichole made during such a trying time: "Our heads were spinning; we'd never been through an experience like this. We didn't know what to do or how hospice works, and without Nichole, the awfulness of this situation would have been unthinkable. Even as she faithfully tended to our mom during her final hours, Nichole looked after all of us with the gentlest of care and grace. She guided us through an ordeal that might have otherwise been unbearable, and for that, we're forever grateful."
Easing the stress and sorrow of a patient's passing in any measure is part of our duty to care. In helping their loved ones, we find one more way to honor the patient. It's the very least we can do, and Nichole was at her very best. Her actions spoke for us all, and she did it right. We, too, are forever grateful.