In the middle of the night, Avalon received an admission of a critically ill elderly patient whose family was considering transitioning to comfort measures. It was her first patient off orientation to require palliative care. But Avalon approached the situation with the compassion and poise of a seasoned nurse.

On admission, the patient was extremely unstable, and Avalon worked with the medical team to add medications that would help this gentleman survive long enough for the family to come to the bedside. Once they were present, Avalon coordinated with the medical team to make palliative arrangements. She assessed the family’s need for additional support and arranged for a chaplain to come to the unit, then worked side by side with the chaplain to provide comfort to the grieving family.

The family then told her they needed to leave for their own medical reasons. The family expressed deep gratitude for her care and even hugged her before leaving. After the family left, Avalon diligently sat at the patient’s bedside in the final hours of his life so he wasn’t alone. She was ultimately at his bedside, holding his hand, when he passed away a short time after. Avalon ensured that the patient was treated with dignity and compassion in his final hours. For a new nurse to embody that kind of heart and grace this early in her career is extraordinary.