... I was called by a friend of mine whose father had just been put in Hospice care here at Mercy. Needless to say, the family was quite emotional and very concerned about the care their loved one would be receiving. Their initial contact with their dad's caregivers was overwhelming - the family was just not able to accept or grasp the events that were being explained to them.

My friend's dad had battled lung cancer for the past year and had been able to rally many times. However, upon this admission he was in renal failure and had hemorrhaging in his bladder and in his frontal lobe. His pain was uncontrollable; for his family this was their worst nightmare.

As a nurse and a Mercy co-worker I understand this process. But as a friend and one who has lived through a similar emotional roller coaster, I also understand the feelings of helplessness, anger, and fear that accompany a life event like this. I would like to recognize one exceptional nurse who took time to explain things to the family. He also provided compassionate care that maintained the patient's dignity.

Travis, RN on 7D gave this extra care not only to the patient, but also to his entire family. Travis took time to explain every aspect of care and also made sure to address the patient's pain. He then came back to readdress pain control throughout his shift. Travis made the family feel that they were his primary focus and ensured that they were kept updated on events.

As a Mercy co-worker I was deeply touched by the compassion I saw in the nursing care Travis gave not only to the patient, but to his family that were grieving. He truly demonstrated our Mercy values with this patient and his family.