Jennifer Eckard
March 2025
Jennifer
Eckard
,
BSN, RN
PCU
Sentara RMH Medical Center
Harrisonburg
,
VA
United States

 

 

 

She picked flowers, sang songs with him, and shared pictures of him with the flowers with his family, who were regrettably not present.
Many specialty services and nurses cared for a patient who experienced prolonged hospitalization. After extensive discussion and support for the patient and family, the patient was transitioned to comfort care measures. The dying wish of the patient was to be assisted outside to “breathe real air and feel the sunshine on my face. " Once Jennifer learned of this wish, she went above and beyond to make it a reality for the patient and family. When she realized the healing garden was not an option, she took him to a covered area to fulfill this dying man’s wish. She picked flowers, sang songs with him, and shared pictures of him with the flowers with his family, who were regrettably not present. That must have been an incredibly emotional time for everyone involved. I cannot overstate the gift Jennifer provided to that sweet patient. Knowing he passed away just a few hours later with that memory and experience makes his life and death more meaningful for all. Thank you for being such a special nurse and an example of the invaluable gift that nurses bring every day to the patients we care for.