In the Palliative Care Rounds, I learned about a special act of a nurse. This RN was caring for a female patient who had rapid atrial fibrillation and Parkinsonism. She was stabilized and was being transferred to telemetry. Her husband, of 68 years, was admitted the day before to ICU with GI Bleeding and had hemoglobin of 4.6. He was receiving transfusions and learned that his wife was admitted. He was quite concerned because he has been her caregiver for many years. This special nurse promised her patient that if she transferred out of the unit she would pass by her husband's room so they could visit with each other. Soon the order came for her to be transferred to telemetry. This nurse kept her promise and pushed the wife's bed (from MICU to CCU) into his room so that they could visit and hold hands. Her husband's face lit up and he whispered to her, "I love you." The nurse kept her promise to the patient. Then the patient went to telemetry. Little did any of us know that this would be the last interaction they had together. She was discharged 5 days later. Her husband remained in the ICU for 6 more days. Then the news came his wife died the following day. His heart was heavy and he cried in grief, but he had only good words about the staff and how grateful he was to see his wife that evening. It was the last time he held her hand.
It takes courage to do something out of the norm, but this personalized and compassionate act made the world of difference for this couple. Marianna made an enormous difference in the life of this couple.