I would like to recognize Tina Buys on the CICU for her compassionate care of a patient during the time of care withdrawal, but most importantly her actions to the family during the immediate grieving process. Tina always comes to work with a heart full of love for the nursing profession and her patients. Always striving to do what is right, she remains one of the strongest advocates on the unit for the patient and family care.
Tina was assigned to a patient who had a terminal diagnosis and the family had made the difficult decision to withdraw support and let the patient pass peacefully. Tina offered words of compassion to the family during the decision process and promptly ensured that the patient was comfortable, and presentable to allow for a final, positive lasting memory. This act was wonderful, but it is what Tina did after the patient had passed and the family had left, which makes her stand out. The wife of the patient, in her emotional distress, had left her scarf. Tina found the garment and promptly called and the wife asked that it just be discarded, that it "was no big deal". However, Tina would not take that for an answer and requested the lady's address and planned to send the garment back to her. After Tina hung up the phone, she turned to me and said, "I'm going to send her a little something extra". A care package for a widow of a patient goes above and beyond what is required of her. She touched my heart and makes me so proud to say I work with compassionate people like Tina.