The morning began with great difficulty; a patient's mom awoke to staff providing chest compressions on her new baby, a group of 40 plus staff members gathering and hearing new terms including ECMO being used around her.
I arrived to find Madison Caskey, RN in a consultation room with the patient's mother. I was very pleasantly surprised. While I might typically find a mother crying, possibly even keening, in fear and grief. This mom was actively listening, asking great questions, and thinking clearly. A major difference was the skill and subtle attention to detail being utilized by Nurse Caskey.
Because Madison was calm so was mom. Because Madison chose her words wisely mom was able to hear them and ask great questions in response. Because Madison chose to describe the scene occurring around the corner using words that painted a picture, including the reality that it would really look like chaos but worked instead like an orchestra creating great music, mom was able to trust her, envision the scene, and not have a need to race into the seeming chaos to check on her baby. Instead, she trusted not only Madison but the team that Madison trusted.
Madison Caskey provided nursing care with such composure and professionalism it made my job as a chaplain much easier. She listened to this mom with her heart throughout the shift and when the crisis occurred she was able to focus on the mom, remain calm, and provide comfort. It all began with listening, it was supported through trust and succeeded because of wisdom shared.
Madison was living out the ideologies of a DAISY Nurse by just being herself.