For Assistant Clinical Director of Palliative Care Nikashia Franklin, the consistency and level of joy at our hospital are signs we are doing something right.
“Every time I see a patient family smiling, I’m reminded we’re able to be here to help them do that,” said Nikashia. “And when, no matter how hard they look, they can’t find a reason to smile, it’s because of the reputation of this organization that they feel safe enough to share those moments with us too.”
The Privilege of Working in Palliative Care
As a NICU nurse at another Houston-area hospital, she experienced a patient’s death for the first time. Feeling paralyzed and out of her depth, she turned to her preceptor for help guiding and comforting the family.
“He took the reins, and I watched how grateful that family was for him being beside them during those moments. I decided I wouldn’t miss that opportunity again.”
Nikashia began her career at Texas Children’s 13 years ago. At first, she couldn’t see herself working outside the NICU. She was already a nursing leader when the retiring incumbent in her current position reached out to see if she was interested in an opportunity with the palliative team.
“When I explain to people what I do, they say they can’t imagine how difficult it is –and some days are – but it’s the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever had the opportunity to do.”
The Gift of Collateral Beauty
Nikashia and her team do their absolute best to mitigate obstacles for the greater good of their patients and to help them find what she calls the “collateral beauty” in their circumstances.
She recalls an opportunity she and her team had, to take care of a young lady whose greatest wish was to get out of the hospital and see her puppy. Working with the clinical care team, Nikashia’s palliative care team arranged to transport the girl to the valet concourse where her dog was waiting outside.
“There was so much joy in her face, and the dog recognized ‘this is my girl,’” remembered Nikashia, who found the experience especially meaningful as a dog mom herself. “Everyone deserves to have a small glimpse of joy in the face of such uncertainty or during their most difficult days.”