My preceptor , in her decades of critical care nursing , certainly knew this . Though it was undoubtedly a difficult conversation , even for her , she let our patient know that we understood and respected his decision . If he wanted to donate his organs , she would contact the organ transplant team so they could carry out his wishes .
Although we had only known this patient for a short time , we had an obligation to him as nurses . He did not want any further care for his physical state ; however , these medical interventions are only a small aspect of what nursing care truly is , and I was able to witness this firsthand . Per the patient ’ s request , my preceptor invited the hospital chaplain to come pray with him , had a cot delivered to the room so that the patient ’ s mother could spend one last night with him , and coordinated with the ICU physician to set a time for the patient to go to the OR in the morning and have the machine removed , allowing him to die peacefully .
At first , I was left feeling equally depressed and disturbed knowing that this young , alert patient would die so soon . On the inside , I felt angry at the fact that he did not want to continue living . However , as the day progressed , I came to understand , accept , and even support this man ’ s decision to die with dignity . My preceptor and I made sure to let him know that he had fought his disease with strength , and that his final decision to donate his organs and give others a new chance at life was exceptionally admirable .
Honor Walk That evening , the organ transplant team came to obtain the patient ’ s consent for his donation . He slept soundly , with his mom next to him ; in the morning , he was taken to the operating room . As the physicians and nurses rolled his bed to the elevators , staff lined the hallways , paying respect to the patient and thanking him for his gift of life . In hospitals across the nation , this final act of appreciation is known as an “ honor walk .” Among this conglomeration of people dressed in every shade of blue scrubs , some people bowed their heads , others offered the patient a smile , shook his hand , or shed a tear . Admittedly , I was one of the many who were crying , although I do believe my tears were not completely tears of sadness .
The patient passed away that morning , surrounded by his family members and ICU team . After his family said their final goodbyes , the patient donated numerous organs to patients across the country . In the ultimate act of selflessness , he made the best out of the terrible illness he had .
For many seasoned healthcare professionals , death is not something to be feared . In fact , accepting and dealing with the reality and inevitability of death is a crucial element of their career , something I have come to find truly admirable . As I grow older , I ’ ve begun to accept this inevitable consequence of being alive : all people must die . One day , I will take my last breath , my heart will beat one last time , and I will cease to remain , just as you eventually will too . However , we do have authority over how we spend our limited time on this Earth . So , exhibit kindness to others , be a good friend and neighbor , and show your family that you love them , because in the end , these are the elements of your existence that endure all constraints and limitations that this world has placed on our physical bodies , and ultimately have the capacity to affect others long after any of the 37.2 trillion cells in our bodies have ceased to function .
In the words of Ernest Hemingway , “ Every man ’ s life ends the same way . It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another .”
Reference McLeod , B . ( 2022 ). 25 Ernest Hemingway Quotes About Life & Death . https :// www . joincake . com / blog / ernest-hemingway-quotes-aboutdeath /# h _ 2131236348301647015062348
Erika Gotway is a 2018 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and a 2020 graduate of Saint Louis University ’ s accelerated MSN program .
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