
Cherie Jefferson
February 2025
Cherie
Jefferson
,
RN
4 West
Sutter Health Mills Peninsula Medical Center
Burlingame
,
CA
United States
Cheri took her phone and played Luther Vandross for him. She told me she watched his respirations slow down, and he was more relaxed.
We had a patient who was on comfort care and actively dying. This patient was on a morphine drip and Ativan as needed. Cheri was the nurse for this patient on the PM shift. My shift was over, and I left that day. When I came back the next day, Cheri told me that the patient passed away so peacefully. Cheri told me in conversation with the family that he loved Luther Vandross. Cheri said that when the family left that evening, she went into the room to check on her patient. She noticed that his respirations were rapid despite the medication that we were giving him. She remembered the conversation with the family and how much he liked Luther Vandross. Cheri took her phone and played Luther Vandross for him. She told me she watched his respirations slow down, and he was more relaxed. She left her phone in his room so he could listen to the music. She said after three Luther Vandross songs, he quietly passed away. Cheri showed so much compassion for the patient and the family. She listened to the family and heard what they said. She truly went above and beyond to make the patient more comfortable.