It was Christmas night when the nurse arrived to the unit, eager to receive her assignment for the evening. Immediately upon arriving, the nurse was informed that one of her patients was quickly decompensating would be in need of a bedside OR right away. Without hesitation, the nurse's peers stepped in to help by retrieving supplies, starting IVs, getting consents, and communicating with the medical team. With the help from her co-workers, this nurse was able to get a thorough report on both of her patients and safely organize her plan for the evening.
Many hours later the procedure was over, the patient was recovering, and the patient's mother was brought back to the room. Extremely distraught, the mother stated that she no longer recognized her baby, and that she no longer felt like a mother to this child. Understandably emotional, the NICU nursing staff was openly available for this mother emotionally, physically as a shoulder to cry on, and spiritually during this difficult time.
After being informed that this would be one of many operations and procedures that her child would have to face, the mother decided to withdraw care. After beginning bereavement care, the patient's mother decided it was too much for her to bear and physically needed to leave him in order to emotionally let go.
Soon after the patient's mother had left the NICU, the nursing team decided that this baby was going to pass surrounded by love and support and held in the arms of people that truly cared about him. This patient's nurse immediately held him and other nurses decided they would take shifts holding him too. Each of the nurses working that evening made a point to stop by the patient's room to let him know that he was cared about. The nurses spent time with this child and together until late into the night. Shortly after 3am, the sweet little boy passed away in his nurse's arms surrounded by people that loved him.
Throughout the whole bereavement process, this nurse was never alone; her peers were by her side every step of the way. It was a very sad, emotional, and exhausting shift that could not have come together like it did were it not for the NICU team's sense of teamwork, cooperation, and comradery.
These are the Nurses who were there and are now honored with this DAISY Team Award:
Amanda Bobrzynski, BSN, RN
Bethann Brayer, RN
Angela Groshner BSN, RN, CBC
Jenna Guckert, RN
Jacqueline Heuer, BSN, RN
Taylor Kalina, BSN, RN
Diane Marshall, BSN, RN
Brittanie Perla, BSN, RN
Brandon Zarichnak, BSN, RN