Julie
Comer
June 2012
Julie
Comer
,
RN
ICU
Franciscan St. Francis Health - Mooresville
Indianapolis
,
IN
United States

 

 

 

I would like to nominate my co-worker, Julie Comer, for the extraordinary end of life gift she gave to one of her patients. On a recent shift she was our RRT nurse who was called to a lung cancer patient’s room. The patient nearly coded but was stabilized with intervention and transferred to ICU. A code status decision was uncertain until family could meet with the oncologist and they were trying to also hold off making the patient a DNR because the patient’s wife was taken for emergent surgery earlier this same day so the family / physician meeting could not take place. The patient was eventually made a DNR and by the following morning was becoming sicker and more restless. The patient was requesting to see his wife. Sensing urgency, Julie called Morgan County Hospital and working with staff there was able to get the patient’s wife released. Our patient’s wife was able to get to her husband’s bedside where they exchanged a few words but most importantly an “I Love You”. The patient died 20 minutes after his wife’s arrival. Our patient died peacefully and the family had peace as well. I praise Julie for being such a great caring nurse and helping give her patient such a great end of life gift!