Emily Larson
February 2015
Emily
Larson
,
BSN
Pediatrics 4 Hope, Med/Surg - Advocate Children's Hospital - Oak Lawn Campu
Advocate Children's Hospital
Oak Lawn
,
IL
United States

 

 

 

Emily was taking care of a 7 month old patient that had significant changes in status that required a stat LP with sedation, but before being able to obtain the LP, a stat CT of the head had to be performed due to back and neck arching the patient was presenting with to rule out meningitis. Emily quickly acted on this and took the patient and the mother down to CT herself. She knew that the baby responded well to singing lullabies after the mom had told her so...so she stayed in the CT room with him for the test and sang every lullaby she knew, right next to the baby's ear, as close as she could get while still staying safe with the radiation. The second she stopped singing in between songs, he would start to cry and when she began singing again, he calmed. This act of compassion was witnessed by me, as I was the mom of this patient. As I stood helpless and teary eyed outside the room as a nurse myself, and the nurse manager of 4 Hope, I truly witnessed what compassion Emily gives all of her patients. She did everything that I would have been doing for him if I was right next to him. It was an amazing thing to witness. As scared as I was for the next procedure, the LP under sedation, Emily gave me updates as soon as it was over and she and Colleen Sweeney, CPP, offered to hold him flat on his back so I could lay down for an hour while he was still sedated as I had really not slept for the past 3 days before this, never leaving his side.

I am so proud of the work and care we provide our patients here on 4 Hope, but from a mother's point of view of my own, I could not have asked for anything better to be done to my son than the care that Emily gave to him that day. Thank you Emily... My son is my world and you took over every role that day that I would have wanted you too... You were his patient advocate, his caring nurse, his mom's voice while singing lullabies to him in the CT, and the backbone for me when I felt like breaking. To all team members on 4 Hope that took care of us that admission stay, I am so proud.. Thank you.