July 2019
Nora
Kramer
,
BSN, RN, CPN
Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Children's National Medical Center
Washington
,
DC
United States
Nora took on the role of primary nurse, a voluntary position, to a long term patient who spent almost 10 months in the ICU. During that time, Nora worked to provide not only exceptional bedside care, but she assisted with the coordination of consulting providers in order to address developmental needs. This was done all while providing consistency and support to a family with limited resources. When the patient deteriorated, Nora came in on her day off to provide support to the family and assist with memory-making. On the day of the patient's planned withdrawal of support, Nora also came in on her day off to assist with the cumbersome task of taking a patient, requiring the highest amount of mechanical support, outside to be in the sunlight with her parents one last time. Nora embodied skill, compassion and resolve in her care of the patient and family, even when doing so was physically and emotionally taxing.