Deandria Winchester
May 2017
Deandria
Winchester
,
RN
Intermediate Care Unit
Harris Health System
Houston
,
TX
United States
There was a 19-year-old male patient, whose body had been ravaged by bone cancer, claiming his left leg and spreading throughout his body. In this fight for his life, he has become angry. Angry at cancer that was stealing his independence and his chance at life. Angry with nursing staff and doctors who, no matter how much medicine they prescribed and administered, would never be able to touch the pain of cancer so deep it would force him awake from sleep in agony. Cancer created masses over the young patient's body. These tumors made it impossible for him to be comfortable or have any long periods of rest.
Deandria was assigned this patient for a continuous three-shift period. While other nurses may have felt resigned to the young body's attitude, she became an advocate for her patient. In a patient who had most of his independence and choices stripped away, it was important for him to do something on his own. Deandria called in two aides to assist, handed him his crutch and allowed him to maintain his dignity by making the laborious journey to the restroom. Although, he required a couple of breaks doing this route which would take an able-bodied person 10 seconds; the satisfaction was evident on his face when he made it back to bed.
He would often cry in pain due to the tumors on his back. He later told his pain doctors that he was allowed some respite from the agony when his nurse, Deandria would massage his back near the tumors. She did this multiple times, allowing him relief from a pain that even the strongest medication couldn't alleviate.
His birthday came while he was in the hospital and it was Deandria who coordinated all the staff on our unit and family to surprise him with a cake and Happy Birthday song. That was one of the few times we were able to coax a smile from him.
Although he was Deandria'spatient for only those three days, I'm sure her compassion and care made a lifetime impression on our young patient and his family. I'm continuously awed at the selflessness that she shows and this is just one example of the great care Deandria always provides.
Deandria was assigned this patient for a continuous three-shift period. While other nurses may have felt resigned to the young body's attitude, she became an advocate for her patient. In a patient who had most of his independence and choices stripped away, it was important for him to do something on his own. Deandria called in two aides to assist, handed him his crutch and allowed him to maintain his dignity by making the laborious journey to the restroom. Although, he required a couple of breaks doing this route which would take an able-bodied person 10 seconds; the satisfaction was evident on his face when he made it back to bed.
He would often cry in pain due to the tumors on his back. He later told his pain doctors that he was allowed some respite from the agony when his nurse, Deandria would massage his back near the tumors. She did this multiple times, allowing him relief from a pain that even the strongest medication couldn't alleviate.
His birthday came while he was in the hospital and it was Deandria who coordinated all the staff on our unit and family to surprise him with a cake and Happy Birthday song. That was one of the few times we were able to coax a smile from him.
Although he was Deandria'spatient for only those three days, I'm sure her compassion and care made a lifetime impression on our young patient and his family. I'm continuously awed at the selflessness that she shows and this is just one example of the great care Deandria always provides.