It's nice to know I can still be moved

[HikingEDRN, BSN, RN]

Yesterday, an elderly man came with multiple co-morbidities with a surgical emergency that, of course, was inoperable due to his age and condition. His family decided against interventions and he was to be admitted to the floor as a DNR. However, he declined more quickly than anticipated so he stayed in the ED and passed away there. There were multiple family members there spilling out into the hallway. I had no role in his care but happened to be walking by the group when I saw his wife sitting in a wheelchair with red-rimmed eyes and holding a tissue. I stopped next to her, squeezed her hand briefly, and moved on. After that, I had to step into the med area and blink several times to keep the tears in.

The patient was in his 90's and it was definitely his time. It was just heartbreaking to look at the person who had just lost her companion of perhaps as many as 70 years. I was also reassured that this cranky ED nurse juggling work, family and graduate school (me), still has a heart in there somewhere.

[schooldistrictnurse]

If I live to be 100 I will never forget the ED nurse who said something kind to me when my mom had her first major health crisis. "I'm sorry this is happening to your mom." That was over 15 yrs ago.

[tarotale]

I'm glad they decided to let him pass like a human being. Kudos on your work today

[Apples&Oranges]

I remember, 12 years later, the nurse who held my hand, for 10 seconds, the day before my mom died. She looked in my eyes, said nothing, squeezed my hand, got up and walked away. I have no idea what her name was, would never be able to pick her out on the street. She is the main reason that I made the decision to become a nurse. i can't explain it, I don't want to try. Some of you just get it. Thank you.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

You rock HikingRN