You know on the end of shift note where it says, "Have you checked and updated the anticipated discharge date?" I used to say 'no' until Nancy informed me that 'no' was not really an option, that was there as a reminder to the nurse to confirm the discharge date. At the time I laughed it off and took her advice and began making sure that I do in fact check and or update the date. How does this relate to Caritas nursing????
I was taking care of a very special family who has been on a very long road that ended here on 7 west. After months and months of debilitating symptoms and tests and doctors they are here. They have watched their son struggle and suffer over this past admission and have been anticipating their discharge as the light in their very long tunnel. They were told on a Monday that the discharge was being worked on and the plan was to discharge on Friday. Throughout the week minutes and hours ticked by, the family and patient have been watching the clock with hopeful eyes. On Friday they waited anxiously to round with the doctors so they could start their long journey home only to discover that some of the medical equipment that needed to be delivered to the patient had not yet been arranged. Their dissapointed hearts were only lifted by the news the hospital staff was working to arrange things so they could go home by Saturday morning. The night was long, the bed was uncomfortable, the pumps were beeping and the light in the darkness was knowing this was the last night. I was assigned to this patient on Saturday morning, when I went in for my first assessment there was excitement in the air. The family had not been home in weeks, they had a short window in which they could go home before they had to return for more chemo. Unfortunately their hopes were shattered once again, the equipment wouldn't arrive until Monday (at the earliest) and they had to spend at least one night in the hospital using it to make sure it functioned properly. Now all day long this patient's mom had been strong, smiling and positive but when this news came she burst into tears. She was crushed, defeated. Sometimes when the mountain is so tall it's those tiny little milestones that make you feel like you're climbing it. This is not news to you guys, this is a scenerio we have seen played out time and time again. Here is an opportunity to be a Caritas nurse, we know how important discharge is to our families. We have great doctors and care coordinators on our floor but it is our job to make sure that we assist them as well, communicate with them so we can make sure everything is taken care of and we can get our families home. To where they heal, where they renew and regenerate, where they recoup and re-energize for the next milestone on that giant mountain. This may seem like a boring post, a small thing but it is something we can do to make this impossible journey more managable.

November Caritas Meeting

Today we had our monthly meeting and, as always, I left it feeling rejuvenated and excited about the opportunity I have to touch families and patients as well as support the amazing staff I have the opportunity to work with. It is amazing to realize that our nursing practice is something that is continually evolving based on our experiences and our reactions to them. These experiences can leave us hardened and cold, closing ourselves off to our patients and working to earn a paycheck. Or we can use these interactions to help mold us into a more present and caring nurse, someone who is aware of the intricacies of the human experience and the diverse needs and requirements of those we interact with. It is a process that is constantly evolving and something that can always be improved upon. I am constantly amazed at the high quality of care the nurses of 7 West provide to our patients. I am always amazed with the kindness and teamwork that is displayed on our unit and I am excited to see how we evolve the possibilities are endless!