Chelsea Alkema had an extremely sick, frail, and complex patient for three shifts in a row. On her first day with this patient, his family was frustrated with his lack of clinical improvement. Chelsea went above and beyond to comfort his wife, rearrange his room to their liking, worked with PT/OT to attempt to get out of bed and encourage the patient. She spent hours in his room fighting with him to keep him alive, adjusting medications, administering blood products, and turning up his oxygen.

On her second day with him, his decline was more pronounced and the patient acknowledged he was tired and wanted to go home. Chelsea tirelessly advocated for him, speaking to multiple physicians to obtain orders for pain and comfort, collaborating with case management and palliative care about hospice, and even speaking to multiple family members who were having a very hard time understanding and accepting that he was at the end of his life.

His wife was having a very hard time coping with his decline and spent little time at his bedside. Chelsea took a picture of him and sent it to his wife’s phone to let her know he was thinking of her. She was instrumental in helping the patient tell his family members.

On her third day with him, he was actively dying. His wife was unable to emotionally handle his death and left. The patient was alone. Chelsea sat with this patient, holding his hand, speaking comforting words to him, and stayed with him while he died so that he didn’t have to die alone. When his wife called her an hour later and expressed her ambivalent feelings of not being there for his death, she told her “You were there, you were in his thoughts.” This brought such relief to her. Chelsea went above and beyond during these three shifts, fighting endlessly to help this patient live and then graciously helping him pass on to the other side with dignity and respect.

Note: This is Chelsea's 2nd DAISY Award!