During a stressful shift working with a patient during the end of life, this nurse had been there for this patient and his family for most of the shift. Though she has also provided care to 4 other patient's this same day. During last day of his life while his family was spending quality time with him she stood over the patient who was gasping to breathe some of his last breaths, fanning a newspaper in an attempt to comfort him. The family kept apologizing to her trying to take the paper because they knew she has so much more to do for other patients. I observed from afar while she explained to them ,with a tear in her eye, she had all day long to make them as comfortable as possible and her peers knew the importance of this task so they were taking care of the others. She continued to fan and would spend all the time needed to be by his side. This kind of compassion is what nursing is all about.

Later she received a very kind letter thanking her for that compassion to both the patient who expired and his family.