Devon Ballentine
May 2021
Devon
Ballentine
,
RN, BSN
AMN
Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center
Santa Monica
,
CA
United States
In order to ensure patient and visitor safety, Devon spent a good amount of time talking to the son on the phone explaining the safety guidelines established in the hospital that would aid in protecting him.
Devon was the primary nurse taking care of an elderly patient during the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The patient had a rapid decompensation and had recently stopped eating. Her son was very important to the success of the patient's plan of care but had limited visitation to the unit due to the restriction of visitors related to COVID. The son wanted to visit and discuss the goals of care for his mother in person so that he could physically be there to offer support and spend what may have been her final moments with her.
The plan was for the patient to discharge to a Skilled Nursing Facility on hospice care, however the facility did not allow visitors. Devon understood that the patient's son had the potential to not see his mother before she passed. Despite his heavy assignment, Devon found the time to initiate a conversation to allow the patient's son to visit with approval from the unit leadership. He recognized how much this opportunity would mean to both his patient and her son so he advocated for this exception to be made.
Upon hearing the situation and how the patient did not have much time left, leadership approved the visit. In order to ensure patient and visitor safety, Devon spent a good amount of time talking to the son on the phone explaining the safety guidelines established in the hospital that would aid in protecting him. Upon the son's arrival to the unit, Devon helped him correctly put on his PPE and they went into the room with some family pictures. At first, the patient did not respond to her son, but Devon had the great idea to spread all the pictures on the over bed table and push the table up to her. She finally opened her eyes, looked at the pictures and connected with her son. The son was able to say good bye to his mom.
After the visit, the patient's son raved to the leadership team about how happy he was for the opportunity to say goodbye and that it was all due to Devon's encouragement and support. His persistence and advocacy granted the son a chance to see his mother one last time. Without Devon, the patient never would have been able to say goodbye. The patient was discharged via hospice to a Skilled Nursing Facility the following day and died peacefully very soon thereafter. Devon's actions were inspirational to all staff on the unit. This moment was a testament to Devon's unwavering commitment to his patients, and to UCLA's vision of delivering acts of kindness even in the face of a pandemic.
The plan was for the patient to discharge to a Skilled Nursing Facility on hospice care, however the facility did not allow visitors. Devon understood that the patient's son had the potential to not see his mother before she passed. Despite his heavy assignment, Devon found the time to initiate a conversation to allow the patient's son to visit with approval from the unit leadership. He recognized how much this opportunity would mean to both his patient and her son so he advocated for this exception to be made.
Upon hearing the situation and how the patient did not have much time left, leadership approved the visit. In order to ensure patient and visitor safety, Devon spent a good amount of time talking to the son on the phone explaining the safety guidelines established in the hospital that would aid in protecting him. Upon the son's arrival to the unit, Devon helped him correctly put on his PPE and they went into the room with some family pictures. At first, the patient did not respond to her son, but Devon had the great idea to spread all the pictures on the over bed table and push the table up to her. She finally opened her eyes, looked at the pictures and connected with her son. The son was able to say good bye to his mom.
After the visit, the patient's son raved to the leadership team about how happy he was for the opportunity to say goodbye and that it was all due to Devon's encouragement and support. His persistence and advocacy granted the son a chance to see his mother one last time. Without Devon, the patient never would have been able to say goodbye. The patient was discharged via hospice to a Skilled Nursing Facility the following day and died peacefully very soon thereafter. Devon's actions were inspirational to all staff on the unit. This moment was a testament to Devon's unwavering commitment to his patients, and to UCLA's vision of delivering acts of kindness even in the face of a pandemic.