Heather Wright
May 2024
Heather
Wright
,
RN
ICU
Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center
Sacramento
,
CA
United States

 

 

 

For weeks, Heather took on the primary nurse role, providing exceptional care to the patient.
There was a 32-year-old non-verbal male patient with a history of endocardial cushion defect status post repair at five months old complicated by LEFT hemidiaphragm paralysis status post plication, and subglottic stenosis due to multiple intubations status post rib graft, laryngotracheal surgery at Stanford hospital, and atlantoaxial subluxation, hypothyroidism, and gout who was admitted for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to influenza pneumonia with ARDS. The patient became acutely ill. Therefore, the patient needed to be intubated and required multiple sedative infusions to stay calm while on mechanical ventilation.

It is apparent that the patient's mother is very invested in her son's well-being and has been actively involved in making decisions about his medical care. However, there have been times when her decisions have gone against the advice of the doctors, which can be risky and may potentially harm the patient's health. The mother's overprotective behavior towards her son, who has been ill for a long time, has caused her to treat him more like a baby than an adult. This has created a difficult situation for the ICU nursing staff, who have had to balance the mother's expectations with the patient's needs.

Despite the tireless efforts of the ICU nurses and doctors, the mother has dismissed them from their duties several times. As a result, many ICU nurses felt hesitant to care for the patient due to the mother's behavior. For weeks, Heather took on the primary nurse role, providing exceptional care to the patient. She built a trusting relationship between the mother and the ICU team by going above and beyond to provide outstanding care to the patient and the family members.

Her dedication extended beyond the patient's physical health, as she showed genuine concern for the family's mental and emotional well-being. She involved the ombudsman in patient care, which was crucial. This ensured that the patient received the best possible care and protected his rights. It highlights the importance of involving the ombudsman to ensure that patients are treated fairly and with compassion, regardless of any external factors.

Her selflessness is truly admirable. Her willingness to go above and beyond her duties as a nurse shows the impact that a single individual can have in making a difference in someone's life. The patient's recovery is a testament to the power of compassion and care, and her contribution to it is truly remarkable.