I witnessed a very beautiful action by a caring nurse on 2S. I walked by a room on the unit and stopped to witness a touching moment.
The patient was DNR and was very agitated and would not settle down. The nurse, Christa Hunter, and the patient's wife tried to settle him down. Christa asked the wife if she would like to lie in bed with him. She saw me outside the room and asked if I would assist in helping her get the wife in the bed. Christa moved the patient and we both assisted getting the wife in bed with her loved one. Christa then asked the wife if she would like her husband's arm around her neck, and the wife stated yes. Then the wife snuggled into her husband. The husband immediately settled down. Ten minutes later the husband took his last breath.
The wife was delighted that she was next to husband at his time of passing, and that other family members were present as well. The nurse came out of the room to let the family members have time with him. Christa and I embraced and cried and enjoyed that we could assist the wife and family members at such a difficult time.
Christa is one smart and caring nurse just like so many people on staff here. I am proud of our Tucson V.A.