February 2022
Emma
Kauffeld
,
BSN, RN
Duke University Hospital
Duke University Health System
Durham
,
NC
United States
Emma listened! She cared! She responded by helping make decisions so he would feel comfortable away from me.
Emma has been amazing. We have had a very good stay with an excellent team. But Emma was an extra blessing! She was always here when needed and fast! She listened as my husband talked about real fears, claustrophobia, and PTSD from a 4-year prison stay (18 years ago for car theft) and she NEVER judged or showed bias - she listened! She cared! She responded by helping make decisions so he would feel comfortable away from me. He was in pre-op for hours and away from me for almost 9 hours and her plan to help him stay calm worked! When he woke in PACU he asked for me first, then Emma! She is healing, calming, comforting - listens! And when he couldn't see my face, she was the next best thing! Also, I was in the room for 9 hours by myself and before she left her shift she came and checked on me and made sure I knew what she knew about how my husband was doing. Our whole team has been really good, but Emma has gone above by listening, caring, responding, and "being the change in the world".