We were taking care of a patient who was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease that began impacting his kidneys. The physicians explained to him that he would need to start hemodialysis to prolong his life. He did not want to begin hemodialysis but chose to do so because he wanted to make sure there were arrangements for his animals, especially his dog, to be taken care of when he died. He had no close relatives, and his friends could not care for his dog. Our unit social worker worked diligently to find a shelter for the dog to ease the patient's concerns, but it was very challenging, to say the least. Because he was in comfort care, we allowed the dog to come up and see him because we knew how important the dog was in his life. One of our nurses heard about the situation and the difficulty in finding a shelter for the dog. To provide the patient with relief at the end of his life, she volunteered to adopt the dog rather than send the dog to the shelter. 

She spoke to the patient about her plan and met the dog when the dog was visiting. The patient happily permitted her to adopt the dog, and she picked the dog up the next day. The patient was relieved that there was a plan for his dog, and he passed away the next day. Her kindness embodies the hospital's mission, vision, and values. She allowed the patient to move forward with the care he wanted for himself and the ability to do it in peace, knowing that his dog was taken care of. This has reminded us that care extends beyond passing medications or having procedures done- it's getting to know our patients beyond their name and diagnosis, and genuinely listening to what is important to them. Her kindness inspires us to go the extra mile for our patients and make a difference in their lives. Thank you, Danielle!