I can’t say enough about the incredible nurses we are blessed with in our organization. This story shared with us from the Respiratory ICU is a testament to the way they live our Core Values in all that they do, especially in the face of this devastating pandemic.
ICU nurse Jesse Hankins recently spent over six hours straight in his patient’s room in the Respiratory ICU without breaking airborne contact, tirelessly working to save his patient. This patient was receiving maximum ventilator support and was on the maximum dosage of four vasopressors. Jesse knew he needed to contact the family regarding the patient’s grave condition. But there was a problem. He couldn’t find any phone numbers in the patient’s medical record.
Using Creative Vitality, he reached out to non-emergent dispatch to obtain the patient's wife's phone number. He called her and updated her on her husband's status and allowed the son to visit as it was clear that the patient was likely terminal. After 11 hard hours in full PPE, providing every bit of support that medicine can provide, it was clear to Jesse that the patient was extremely uncomfortable and in significant distress.
As hard as it was, Jesse knew he had to do the right thing for the patient, showing Sacred Trust. He called the patient's wife and told her how uncomfortable her husband was. She decided to place her husband on comfort care and the patient passed away peacefully on Jesse's shift. Jesse even stayed late to help the day shift nurses complete paperwork.
“I was extremely touched by Jesse's compassion,” Nurse Heather Robinson said. “Jesse is the personification of ALL of our core values. He and others like him make me extremely proud to work in the Respiratory ICU.”
Jesse’s story is just one of countless stories we could tell of the countless long hours in full PPE so many of our caregivers have experienced while we fight COVID-19. I am humbled to work in an organization with so many talented people coming together to do what’s right for the patients we serve.
Let’s continue to support each other as we enter what appears to be a significant second wave of COVID-19 hospitalizations at SJRMC.