B was admitted to the Critical Care Unit due to a fall. His injuries included six broken ribs on the left and a very large tension pneumothorax. While doing his admission assessment, I learned that he had tripped while going to check on his wife, who was currently in Hospice and expected to pass within the week.
The attending physician was made aware of this and, despite the nursing staff's best efforts to optimize him, she felt he was still too weak and tenuous. The staff learned that his wife's death was imminent. B told us that he and his wife had been married 57 years and had no children. He was a former military patriot, tough as nails, and willing to sacrifice his own health (even stating, "I walked out of here 38 years ago AMA. If I have to do it again to see my wife I will.") to be with her during her last hours. It was obvious something needed to be done.
As I finished my handoff report to the nightshift RN (Dana Ashlock) who had cared for him the past two nights I expressed to her his determination in wanting to see/be with his wife. She too had witnessed his strength and resiliency. She knew we needed to find a way for him to get to his wife safely. I spoke with the charge RN (Elizabeth Herring) before I left, claiming "We have to do something. He IS strong enough to do this. We cannot let his wife die and at least not try to get him there, even if only for a few moments." This was when things really began to be set into place.
Elizabeth was on the phone with Valley Medical Transport; Dana was on the phone with the night physician. He came, assessed the patient, and began the process to optimize him to be able to see his wife one last time. The chest tube was placed to water seal. The oxygen was weaned from 6L down to room air; the patient ambulated around the unit. A chest x-ray confirmed no further increase in tension pneumothorax size. We then learned of his wife's passing.
At that time the unit nurses assured that Dana's other patient would be cared for, and she left with B in the Valley Medical Transport ambulance. The team arrived at his house and he was able to be with his wife, take care of things, and be surrounded by his and her loved ones in his darkest hour. He was able to be there for approximately 5 hours before heading back to WMC.
B has since been discharged, but the amount of collaboration, compassion, empathy, devotion, persistence, and teamwork that occurred to ensure B be with his wife was beyond any "normal shift" work. Not once in the course of B's stay did the nursing staff, night MDs, or Valley Medical Transport say "no, I don't think so" or "there is no way we can do this". Everyone involved knew the importance and made it happen.
Dana and Elizabeth embody what Florence Nightingale envisioned for the nursing profession - To provide excellent care to the whole person, including physical, mental, and spiritual. "Thank you" does not seem to be enough, yet it is the only thing that continues to come to mind.