Jonathan J Huang
July 2024
Jonathan J
Huang
,
BSN, RN
KP 18
NYU Langone Hospitals - Tisch / Kimmel
New York
,
NY
United States
Jonathan knelt at the bedside, addressed C by name, and asked C to look at him and to please open his eyes so they could talk. To my great surprise, C followed Jonathan’s cues, and they made eye contact.
My son-in-law was at the end of his life, dying from stage 4 colon cancer with metastasis to the liver and lungs. My daughter asked me to come to the hospital, as she didn’t want to be alone with C as he took his last breath. I arrived on Wednesday. He died on Friday evening.
While I was at the hospital, I observed the physicians, residents, APRNs, RNs, respiratory therapists, lab, and X-ray personnel. As a retired RN and former hospital administrator, I was keenly aware of the care being given. I often noticed things and brought them to the attention of the RNs. I thought to myself, "Nursing is not what it used to be," until I met Jonathan Huang.
Jonathan cared for C on what would be his last night on earth. Jonathan entered the room, introduced himself, and told us he would do his very best to care for C and to see that my daughter and my needs were met as well. He encouraged us to call him if he wasn’t in the room and to ask questions. He then went to the bedside.
Jonathan knelt at the bedside, addressed C by name, and asked C to look at him and to please open his eyes so they could talk. To my great surprise, C followed Jonathan’s cues, and they made eye contact. Jonathan went on and asked many questions. C responded with a series of nods; he never uttered a word. I quickly realized Jonathan was assessing C’s needs and planning what and how to do it, being that C was in pain, on high oxygen, and movement caused his O2 level to plummet, and he was edematous from the waist down. Jonathan spoke to C as he administered pain medication, gave him mouth care, and refreshed him with a cooling sponge bath from head to foot. With the help of another nurse, they changed his bed linens so quickly that C’s oxygen level didn’t change.
After positioning C on his side, Jonathan again knelt at the bedside facing C and asked if he was ok. C nodded his head yes and, with a smile and in a very soft voice, said, "Thank you."
The rest of the night Jonathan cared for C according to the plan of care, always assessing C’s comfort level, changing his position every 2 hours and anticipating his needs. Jonathan’s nursing expertise and attention were so comforting to my daughter that she fell asleep at his bedside, the two holding hands.
Jonathan cared for C as if he were a family member, not an assignment.
While I was at the hospital, I observed the physicians, residents, APRNs, RNs, respiratory therapists, lab, and X-ray personnel. As a retired RN and former hospital administrator, I was keenly aware of the care being given. I often noticed things and brought them to the attention of the RNs. I thought to myself, "Nursing is not what it used to be," until I met Jonathan Huang.
Jonathan cared for C on what would be his last night on earth. Jonathan entered the room, introduced himself, and told us he would do his very best to care for C and to see that my daughter and my needs were met as well. He encouraged us to call him if he wasn’t in the room and to ask questions. He then went to the bedside.
Jonathan knelt at the bedside, addressed C by name, and asked C to look at him and to please open his eyes so they could talk. To my great surprise, C followed Jonathan’s cues, and they made eye contact. Jonathan went on and asked many questions. C responded with a series of nods; he never uttered a word. I quickly realized Jonathan was assessing C’s needs and planning what and how to do it, being that C was in pain, on high oxygen, and movement caused his O2 level to plummet, and he was edematous from the waist down. Jonathan spoke to C as he administered pain medication, gave him mouth care, and refreshed him with a cooling sponge bath from head to foot. With the help of another nurse, they changed his bed linens so quickly that C’s oxygen level didn’t change.
After positioning C on his side, Jonathan again knelt at the bedside facing C and asked if he was ok. C nodded his head yes and, with a smile and in a very soft voice, said, "Thank you."
The rest of the night Jonathan cared for C according to the plan of care, always assessing C’s comfort level, changing his position every 2 hours and anticipating his needs. Jonathan’s nursing expertise and attention were so comforting to my daughter that she fell asleep at his bedside, the two holding hands.
Jonathan cared for C as if he were a family member, not an assignment.