Kym Mc Coy

Kym spent a great deal of time caring for a cancer patient and got to know him and his wife and son. Several months passed and the patient was readmitted with a poor prognosis. The patient requested Kym by name and asked that she remain his nurse and administer palliative care. Kym stayed by his side until the end and provided much needed support for this patient's family.

Nurses at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center are encouraged to "journal" their accomplishments to remind themselves and others of how meaningful compassionate patient care can influence the lives of so many. Here is Kym's journal entry:

One of the moments that really made me feel proud of being a nurse was when I provided care for a gentleman who had a history of esophageal cancer and had undergone an esophagectomy. I took care of him for several days and in that time he became very anxious, impatient, frustrated and depressed. Through much time spent in his room talking to him and reassuring him, we developed a trusting nurse-patient relationship. This relationship carried over with his wife and son. He eventually moved out of the unit, however, his condition declined and he was re-admitted several months later. The patient's family requested that I be his nurse.