October 2024
Megan
Sponseller
,
RN
PICU
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States
Megan took it upon herself to get supplies together to make a bereavement hand mold, which meant the world to the patient's mother, who verbalized her appreciation for a permanent way to be able to hold her son's hand after he was gone.
Megan was CRN and helped with the efficient administration of mannitol & hypertonic saline boluses while the decision was made to get a stat bedside head CT. She quickly helped organize the patient room to get everything in position for the CT. During this time, Megan was not only focused on direct patient care. She simultaneously showed compassion and kindness to the patient's family, who were very distraught at the rapid decline in their son's condition. Megan expertly balanced parents' emotions and prioritized actions to benefit the patient. When the results of the CT showed a worsening brain bleed that was inoperable and significantly worse than previous imaging, the team discussed with the family that their son's condition was not going to improve, and there was not much more that could be done. The decision was made to make the patient DNR and call extended family members to come to the hospital in order to say their goodbyes prior to withdrawing care. Megan helped to reposition the patient and his medical equipment so that parents would be able to lay in bed and hug their son for the last time. While I stepped away to eat lunch, Megan took it upon herself to get supplies together to make a bereavement hand mold, which meant the world to the patient's mother, who verbalized her appreciation for a permanent way to be able to hold her son's hand after he was gone. Megan provided support to the family members as well as myself (the bedside nurse) for the remainder of the night & she deserves to be recognized for her excellent nursing care & compassion.