Ashley M Dudley
February 2025
Ashley M
Dudley
,
RN
9W
Riley Children's Health
Indianapolis
,
IN
United States
She stayed late and helped handle many of the end-of-life tasks, as she said it allowed her to be there for the patient one more time.
Despite still being new to her practice, Ashley operates with a constant sense of calmness and security that radiates to everyone around her. When 9W was approached regarding an end-of-life transplant patient's desire to pass away on 9W rather than the PICU, it was initially met with resistance due to her level of care and 9W's unfamiliarity with the process, as this hadn't occurred on the unit in nearly a decade. After discussion and collaboration with the medical teams involved, we determined a plan to grant the patient's wish. Looking at staffing for the night, there was not much experience. Knowing Ashley is a strong nurse with skills and empathy beyond her years, we reached out to inform her of the plan and ensure she was comfortable.
"I'd be honored to," she immediately responded. The patient did not pass during her first shift. When checking in with her after the shift change, I asked how she was doing to let her know we would have someone else provide care tonight to ease her mental and emotional stress. Before I could say anything, she asked to have the patient back again tonight. “Are you sure? I want to make sure you take care of yourself too.” “I’m sure. It’s right for me to be there after tonight. I want to.”
When the patient didn't pass on her next shift either, she came in again and said the same thing. On her third and final shift for the week, the patient passed shortly before shift change. She stayed late and helped handle many of the end-of-life tasks, as she said it allowed her to be there for the patient one more time. Though I know death is something that others here at Riley frequently handle with grace and empathy, it was a new process to provide direct care for our unit. Still, despite her limited experience and training, Ashley never wavered in doing everything in her power to meet the patient's wishes, doing so with maturity, poise, delicacy, and love. Her leadership in that moment will not be forgotten by the unit, and the family will never forget her care.