| Nurse's Notes |
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by Karl Sisson, Director of Development
In an age when the nation's health care system is still unrefined, dying persons and their families are forced to confront numerous issues. Among the worst are unmanageable medical bills, isolation, fear, and little coordination among the services and care provided. At The Heritage Group, we have made an unparalleled commitment to providing quality and compassionate care at every stage of the end-of-life process. The Heritage Group skilled nursing staff shows individual attention to provide for the end-of-life needs of residents and their immediate families. From medical care, pain management, emotional and spiritual support, the staff work as a harmonized team to ensure the dying process is as comfortable and dignified as possible. Staff members treat each and every resident as part of the Heritage family. When a resident passes, a family member is lost and missed. Often under intense emotional distress, a resident’s family looks to the staff of The Heritage Group for support and guidance during the end-of-life process. It is at these times when employees can make their greatest impact on a resident’s life. Traditionally, helping the dying prepare for end-of-life was often left to religious counselors or the resident’s family. This is not the case for The Heritage Group. Along with our chaplains, our health care professionals are providing care for resident’s needs at all stages of their illnesses. The Heritage Group’s nursing staff provides needed care by creating a peaceful end-of-life experience for residents and their families. By creating a positive and understanding environment where all residents can complete the “circle of life” in his or her own way, The Heritage Group encourages and participates in a profound human experience. This represents the ministry of The Heritage Group. Daily demonstrating Christ’s love through compassionate care in purposeful living environments, thereby fulfilling our God-ordained mission. Comprehensive rehabilitation and skilled nursing services are provided at three convenient locations - Heritage Village (Gerry), Heritage Green (Greenhurst), and Heritage Park (Jamestown). For more information, please call Admissions at 716.484.6695 or visit www.heritage1886.org. An Eternal Homecoming The following excerpts are from actual notes entered by Connie Renzi, a Registered Nurse (RN) at Heritage Village Rehab & Skilled Nursing . As you will see, The Heritage Group’s end-of-life care includes much more than simply pain relief. Notes - 10:47 a.m. I have been in with resident many times today, almost hourly. She has been cleaned and repositioned by staff and medicated with Roxanol for comfort and to ease respirations. I have not been able to get a blood pressure at all today. She no longer opens her eyes or responds to verbal or tactile stimulation. Heartbeat is hard to hear because of loud breath sounds. Her oxygen is on continuously. Her breathing is sonorous with periods of up to thirty seconds of apnea. Her lung sounds are very moist – wheezes are heard throughout. She is not able to take in any oral foods, fluids, or medications other than liquid medications. Oral care is being given for comfort. Her family has been notified a few times today as to her condition. They will be in after church. I notified Chaplain Sam early this morning and he has already been in to sit with her awhile. She is not alone. Currently, an Activity staff member is sitting with her. I have been applying a cool washcloth to help soothe and relax her further. Hospice is to be in at some point today. Notes - 1:13 p.m. At 11:45 a.m., I, along with a CNA, turned and repositioned resident to a position of comfort. I spoke with her as I sat with her. She was calm and did not appear to be in any pain. I held her hand and spoke soothingly of our Lord awaiting her arrival. I was called out of the room at noon by a phone call from a family member. She explained that she and her husband would probably not be able to make it here as the weather was too bad and they were afraid to drive. She asked me to please tell her, “It is okay not to wait for them. It is okay for her to go.” I explained that I would go back into the room, keep her comfortable, and share her thoughts. When I went back into the room, I did just that. Her nurse, Cathy, came in at 12:10 p.m. and noticed she was still very moist with her respirations. She left the room to retrieve some Roxanol. As soon as Cathy left, she began to Cheyenne Stroke. Cathy returned and together we lent support to her via loving touch. Roxanol was not given as she was actively passing. Chaplain Sam joined us and sang “Amazing Grace” to her, encouraged her to meet all those waiting for her in heaven, and let go. At 12:30 p.m., she ceased to breathe and had no audible heart sounds. Marilyn Hale, Nurse Practitioner, was notified with an order to release her body to the funeral home. We are awaiting contact with the family before doing that. I called Hospice, along with our Director of Nursing and Administrator, to make them aware of her passing. Staff support was lent and we will miss her! |
May 2007 - While many of us prefer not to talk or even think about end-of-life care, at some point in our lives, death will profoundly affect each and every one of us. The Heritage Group operates three rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities in Chautauqua County that are committed to providing Christ-centered, end-of-life care. Each is staffed with nursing professionals who are at the heart of the organization’s end-of-life care initiative and provide a community of support that attends to the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of dying residents.