Granting a simple Christmas wish

My first job as a new RN was at a Nursing home 50 miles from home. I was a nurse 4 months so I was not surprised to be on the schedule to work on Christmas day. It was the policy of this home to only allow spouses to join their loved ones for the Christmas meal. Mrs "T" only had her son and daughter in law. The kitchen staff refused to bring all three a meal as "rules are rules". Not only was my patient heart broken, but she told me that she wouldn't eat that day of her family couldn't join her. I finally got the kitchen staff to agree to bring the meals and set a table up for them in the day room. It was actually part of the dining area, just separated by a partition. The smiles on the faces of that family made this one of my most memorable nursing moments. Five days later, on my birthday, I found Mrs "T" in her chair in her room. She had peacefully passed away. I had the peace of mind knowing that I had granted her her one last Christmas wish.

My first job as a new RN was at a Nursing home 50 miles from home. I was a nurse 4 months so I was not surprised to be on the schedule to work on Christmas day. It was the policy of this home to only allow spouses to join their loved ones for the Christmas meal. Mrs "T" only had her son and daughter in law. The kitchen staff refused to bring all three a meal as "rules are rules". Not only was my patient heart broken, but she told me that she wouldn't eat that day of her family couldn't join her. I finally got the kitchen staff to agree to bring the meals and set a table up for them in the day room. It was actually part of the dining area, just separated by a partition. The smiles on the faces of that family made this one of my most memorable nursing moments. Five days later, on my birthday, I found Mrs "T" in her chair in her room. She had peacefully passed away. I had the peace of mind knowing that I had granted her her one last Christmas wish.