Linda
Hamilton
February 2012
Linda
Hamilton
,
RN, BSN
Surgical Care Unit
Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital
West Chester
,
PA
United States
Recently, we received a patient from the emergency department that was being admitted for end of life care. The patient had collapsed suddenly at her 92nd birthday celebration, and upon arrival to the emergency department it had been determined she had suffered a very large hemorrhagic CVA. Her daughter and son-in-law were faced with a very difficult decision that day and decided they just wanted to keep their mother comfortable during her final hours.
Shortly after the patient was admitted to the surgical care unit her daughter decided it was more than she could bear watching her mother as she was dying. She said her goodbyes and as she was leaving she only asked that her mother not be alone as she passed. As the shifts were changing Linda Hamilton was assigned to care for this patient.
It was a busy Saturday night, and we all took turns checking on this patient, talking to her and comforting her as we were able. Linda decided to put a continuous pulse oximeter on the patient because she wanted to make sure it would alarm her if the end was near and she was not in the room. She told us she wanted to make sure this patient was not alone when she passed as promised to her daughter.
Shortly into her shift we could hear the alarms coming from this patient's room. As I entered the room to check on the patient I found Linda at her bedside holding her hand and talking to her. It was such a peaceful moment as I watched Linda comfort this patient and speak to her softly as she took her last breaths.
What impressed me the most in this situation was not only Linda's kindness and attentiveness to the needs of this patient, but it was the education and examples she taught 2 of our younger staff members who also happen to be nursing students. She exemplified what it means to be a nurse. She taught them respect, dignity, and how important it was to maintain these even though this patient was no longer with us. She talked to the patient and continued to comfort her as she taught these young students how to provide care for a patient that has passed. Not only did she provide exemplary care to this patient, she instilled a valuable lesson in caring to future nurses.
Shortly after the patient was admitted to the surgical care unit her daughter decided it was more than she could bear watching her mother as she was dying. She said her goodbyes and as she was leaving she only asked that her mother not be alone as she passed. As the shifts were changing Linda Hamilton was assigned to care for this patient.
It was a busy Saturday night, and we all took turns checking on this patient, talking to her and comforting her as we were able. Linda decided to put a continuous pulse oximeter on the patient because she wanted to make sure it would alarm her if the end was near and she was not in the room. She told us she wanted to make sure this patient was not alone when she passed as promised to her daughter.
Shortly into her shift we could hear the alarms coming from this patient's room. As I entered the room to check on the patient I found Linda at her bedside holding her hand and talking to her. It was such a peaceful moment as I watched Linda comfort this patient and speak to her softly as she took her last breaths.
What impressed me the most in this situation was not only Linda's kindness and attentiveness to the needs of this patient, but it was the education and examples she taught 2 of our younger staff members who also happen to be nursing students. She exemplified what it means to be a nurse. She taught them respect, dignity, and how important it was to maintain these even though this patient was no longer with us. She talked to the patient and continued to comfort her as she taught these young students how to provide care for a patient that has passed. Not only did she provide exemplary care to this patient, she instilled a valuable lesson in caring to future nurses.