Creating a personalized oasis for a patient

When a charge nurse learned that a patient had not had a real shower in three years due to medical circumstances, she rose to the occasion to create an extra special spa day experience.

“When I heard that she hadn’t showered in several years, I just wanted to set up something sweet for her, so that she would feel loved,” said Kelly Tuohy, charge nurse at UCHealth Burn and Frostbite Center – Anschutz Medical Campus.

Having extra time that Sunday morning, Tuohy wanted to pamper the patient. Her first stop was to their unit’s comfort cart to grab items that would create a relaxing atmosphere and comforting ambiance, personalized to the patient.

Tuohy pulled out spa day items like hand wraps, scented oils, an eye mask, a face mask and nail polish.

She worked with colleagues to print tranquil, calming images to line the shower walls. The visuals included depictions of lavender fields, mountain sides and rock cairns. Zen-like pictures of candles, rolled up towels and flowers were also on display.

For the first time on the unit, the shower was lit with battery-operated candles. The room smelled of lavender, the patient’s favorite aromatherapy scent.

When the patient discovered that the spa day set-up was just for her, she began to cry. The patient told Tuohy that the experience was motivating for her to get better, so she could shower on her own and be more active. The patient was appreciative of the kindness and human connection.

Tuohy credits her whole team for pitching in and executing this spa day experience. This was not the first for her team. As a unit, depending on patient preferences and time allowance, the team creates experiences to pamper patients. They have dyed a patient’s hair and established candle-lit environments outside, among other experiences.

“I feel like as a unit, this is just the kind of stuff we like to do,” said Tuohy. “I just feel like our patients really appreciate it. We see the whole picture as people.”

The team uses the comfort cart often, with items available for staff to personalize special experiences for patients. Wind chimes are available for staff to provide family members when a loved one has passed. Phone holders are available for patients to be able to use their phones in bed if they can’t use their hands. Other items include fidget toys, dolls, stuffed animals, paint-by- number, flower pedals and faux succulent plants.

Recently, colleague Carrah Campos submitted a Celebrating You recognition for Tuohy.

“Thank you for showing each of us that it’s the small things that matter the most. It’s kindness we all need to each patient situation. It’s truly your love and desire to see each patient have the best experience here on the burn unit. Thank you for being such a role model for this unit,” Campos wrote in the recognition. “[Tuohy] is always making sure each person she comes across knows how important they are.”