To be a nurse with Maria Rivet is to know how good she is. To be a family member of Maria's patient is to realize what an expert she truly is! As a colleague of Maria Rivet's, I can truly say she raises the bar for the nursing profession at Maine Medical Center. As a recent family member of her patient, I can truly tell you that she is a blessing to Maine Medical Center in many ways!
First and foremost, her clinical expertise is on point. From the moment my grandmother arrived in Marias's care, she assessed every line, antibiotic, mental status, oxygen perfusion level and cardiac rhythm to ascertain that her clinical status was stable and headed in the right direction. She methodically analyzed every medication dose, lab value, and vital sign, trying to detect the most minute clinical change in my Grammy's status. She repeatedly called the doctor to alert them of the subtle changes that she detected. It was due to her clinical diligence that my Grammy fared as well as she did. Maria poured her heart into caring for my Grammy and also in establishing connections with the family members. My father, who was my grandmother's eldest son of eight children, had never met Maria, but by the end of the day, her confidence and clinical expertise won his trust over. She cared as deeply for Grammy as the rest of her family did.
It wasn't until 3 days after her admission when Grammy's respiratory status was more demanding than her frail body could bear, and she chose the route of "Comfort Measures Only" status. It was the most bitter pill to swallow and the culmination of her six-week decline after her broken hip. There was the realization that the end of her life was drawing near, and there wasn't anything that the largest family could do to encourage my grandmother to want to live. Instead, we followed Maria's heroic lead, disconnected the high-flow oxygen and monitors and just sat there. We sat there and held Grammy's hand, at times, waiting for her last breath. Family poured in, even members of the family that I hadn't seen in years. Maria greeted everyone just the same, with an endearing, genuine embrace and "thank-you for being here" attitude. At times, 15 family members encircled my Grammy's bedside, trying to get a last glimpse of her smile or her sarcastic remarks, but Maria never wavered. She strongly stood by her patient, at the end of her life, embraced her enormous family, and allowed us to have precious moments with my Grammy on her final days.
In the beginning of my grandmother's journey at Maine Medical Center, it was Maria's mission to heal my Grammy. But towards the end, when it was out of her control, it was Maria's mission to help heal the family, and for that, we are grateful. When Grammy chose comfort measures to heal her body and soul, Maria chose to focus on healing the grieving hearts and souls of the family. Despite her infinite wisdom of being a critical care nurse, when it came down to the simplicity of the art of nursing, Maria conquered it. She was that lasting impression for my family during my Grammy's final days. She provided comfort to my Grammy, kept us in her prayers and provided all of us comfort. Although Grammy has passed, we still think of Maria and her fearless presence at the bedside, always advocating for my Grammy, no matter what her needs were.
The last days of someone's life cannot always be planned. My Grammy's final days certainly weren't planned this way. But she was a free spirit and lived the way she wanted to. Therefore, she died the way SHE wanted to; with dignity, respect and surrounded by her family. Her enormous family of 8 children, 18 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren can only thank R3 and especially Maria Rivet for being a lasting impact on my grandmother's life.