Yesterday I was working the visitor management desk when a subject, husband to a patient who had been admitted to the ER, requested to visit his wife. For whatever reason, I walked back to the room where his wife was located. When I arrived, the patient was being attended to by nurse Carol Kundrat. I advised Carol that the husband wanted to come back, which she said was fine; however, the wife did not want him back with her. In fact, her facial expression lead us to believe that she was quite upset by this request.
I left the room and met the husband in the ER waiting area and advised him of his wife's response. The husband and his wife were older, and he went to explain that his wife was very angry that she was at the hospital to begin with. He stated that she was in poor health both physically and mentally, was struggling with her therapies, and was in a current state where she needed medical attention. He stated he could no longer watch her in her current state and brought her to the ER. His concern was for his wife; he wasn't going to leave and understood that he could not go back to see his wife since she would not allow it. The only thing he asked was to have medical staff come out to talk to him regarding his wife's condition.
I immediately went back to speak with Carol and as I arrived, I observed her at the patient's bedside speaking with her. I could tell from the patient's tone and conversation that she was very angry with her husband for bringing her in and was "venting" her anger to Carol. It was Carol's response that was truly amazing. She was so kind and showed such empathy to the patient's emotions, taking time to validate how she felt. Carol never once spoke an unkind word about the husband. In fact, she showed great support for the husband's concerns and actions regarding the situation. This letter fails to do justice to Carol's actions.
The entire time the wife was "venting", Carol showed such support to her emotional state, reassuring her that everyone, including her husband, was there to help her get better. Carol had such great compassion for the situation! I briefly interrupted, Carol did not know I was listening, and asked if she would be able to speak with the husband. Carol stated she would be out as soon as possible; I left while she continued speaking with the patient. I returned to the ER waiting area, advised the husband and went back to my post at visitor management.
About ten minutes later, the phone rang; it was Carol stating it would be fine for the husband to come back. With this news I saw the husband's demeanor change; he smiled at it appeared the weight of the world was off of him. As we went back to the room, he thanked me for all that I did. I told him, "Don't thank me, thank your wife's nurse she is the real 'Hero'!" I would see the husband several more times during my shift, and he was upbeat, stopped to chat and was a totally different person than when I first met him. I credit this to the actions of Carol.
This incident was not the first time I have had the opportunity to work around Carol. She is consistent in her patient care, kind, engaged, and professional. I know there are many fine nurses at Meritus doing amazing things, but yesterday, Carol's act of kindness and willingness to extend herself to minister to hurting souls made a huge difference in a family's world.