I was recently admitted to St. Joseph Hospital- Lake St. Louis. I had developed an infection in my right toe/foot and needed to be placed in IV Therapy. I was eventually admitted to the 4th floor 4South, for 9 days.
The care I received from the entire nursing staff from the moment I first got in my room till my discharge was astonishing. I have an extremely hard time saying one nurse was better than another one because all were exceptional. It seems there's always one that did something different, said something special, or any number of things which makes that nurse stand out.
Dakota was this nurse in every possible sense of the word. Her qualities as a nurse far exceed any college requirements for graduation, or any potential employer's qualifications for employment.
Dakota's talent lies in the gift she has as a healer. I firmly believe that anyone can read a book on how to do something and in this case become a nurse. But with Dakota, her talents and skills are outwardly obvious as soon as she talks to you. The look in her eyes was as though she was saying, "Relax, I got this, " the calming and reassuring gentleness of her voice goes so incredibly far in the treatment of her patients.
Even after being discharged from the hospital, I ran into a small problem with one of my prescriptions the doctor had sent to the pharmacy. I spent two days trying to untangle what I thought was a big mess. I eventually found out it was the hospitalist who was on my case. Not knowing how to get in contact with the doctor. I took a chance and called the nurse's desk on 4S. With the luck of the Irish, Dakota answered the phone. After a brief conversation, I told her my situation and she sent the doctor a message while I was on the phone. If that isn't real dedication to her profession, I don't know what is.
I commend Dakota for her interest in helping and healing those who, like I, depend on her devotion and judgment towards the outstanding and undeniably dedication to her patients.