Idowu Salau
October 2021
Idowu
Salau
,
RN
Medical- Acute Care
UMass Memorial Medical Center
Worcester
,
MA
United States
One of this patient’s last moments was Idowu’s compassion, respect, and dedication.
As a provider, I am aware that our wound care instructions and dressing change instructions are often incomplete, ambiguous, or sometimes lacking altogether. In this case a day or two later Idowu noted when he came on his shift that there were no instructions. He took the initiative to get the instructions from the surgical service and change the dressing himself. I went to see the patient afterward who literally cried to me saying how grateful he was for Idowu, that he treated him with so much respect and dignity and patience that he hadn’t felt in far too long as a result of this wound. I told Idowu how grateful the patient was and he simply replied, “no problem, that’s my job”.
Later that week Idowu was on with the same patient. He changed the dressing again but this time noted a fungal appearance which was not there prior. He informed the team immediately. This patient ended up having a severe fungal infection of the wound that resulted in septic shock and transfer to the ICU. After discussion with the family, he was made CMO and died that weekend. The family mentioned to me specifically that they were grateful for Idowu’s care because the patient had mentioned to them how kind he was. This made the goals of care conversation much easier for everyone because the family already felt, based on Idowu's care, that we were working in the patient’s best interests.
I want to recognize Idowu for several reasons. I understand that wound care is a routine part of a nurse’s many responsibilities, but the fact that something is routine does not make it any less important to patient care and the patient experience, and he understands that. Additionally, one of this patient’s last moments was Idowu’s compassion, respect, and dedication. He was crying not because of pain as he usually would be but because of gratitude. I can’t overemphasize this enough. His family was also incredibly grateful. He improved the quality of his life in the short time he had left. Finally, Idowu’s observations, accurate assessment, and diligence directly changed this patient’s outcome. It was not the ideal ending, but we were able to recognize the problem and finally bring this man and his family some comfort.
Later that week Idowu was on with the same patient. He changed the dressing again but this time noted a fungal appearance which was not there prior. He informed the team immediately. This patient ended up having a severe fungal infection of the wound that resulted in septic shock and transfer to the ICU. After discussion with the family, he was made CMO and died that weekend. The family mentioned to me specifically that they were grateful for Idowu’s care because the patient had mentioned to them how kind he was. This made the goals of care conversation much easier for everyone because the family already felt, based on Idowu's care, that we were working in the patient’s best interests.
I want to recognize Idowu for several reasons. I understand that wound care is a routine part of a nurse’s many responsibilities, but the fact that something is routine does not make it any less important to patient care and the patient experience, and he understands that. Additionally, one of this patient’s last moments was Idowu’s compassion, respect, and dedication. He was crying not because of pain as he usually would be but because of gratitude. I can’t overemphasize this enough. His family was also incredibly grateful. He improved the quality of his life in the short time he had left. Finally, Idowu’s observations, accurate assessment, and diligence directly changed this patient’s outcome. It was not the ideal ending, but we were able to recognize the problem and finally bring this man and his family some comfort.