Ginger Kouten
December 2019
Ginger
Kouten
,
BSN, CMSRN
Acute Care Medicine
VCU Health
Richmond
,
VA
United States
Two weeks in the hospital is a long time! But there were so many things that Ginger Kouten did that turned it into a good experience for me!
As expected, there were highs and lows in my hospitalization. The highs were a direct result of your attentiveness and well-honed nursing skills. The lows were short-lived as you advocated for me and acted quickly to help control my pain.
In addition to pain, anxiety overwhelmed me with twice daily showers as a part of my treatment plan. It was an overwhelming ordeal. The cool water and exfoliating stung the open sores and even though the water was a gentle spray, my very sensitive skin burned when the water touched me. Thankfully, each shower culminated in the application of a soothing ointment which calmed my skin and reduced the pain. However, this ointment needed an hour to soak in. As I am a modest, private person, it was extremely disconcerting to spend an hour naked in the bathroom while this occurred.
Ginger, you helped maintain my privacy by making a sign to stop others from entering the room and by going out of your way to help keep me to a schedule. You were so kind to make sure you were available to me on my schedule to wrap my IV for showering and then to return at exactly the right time to apply ointment to the areas I couldn't reach. It may sound silly, but it was a very big deal to me.
Your nineteen years of experience showed in everything you did. You were confident, skilled, compassionate, kind, and attentive. Sometimes it's the smallest things that make the biggest difference. I appreciate all of the little things you did to help with my pain and reduce the discomfort of my weeping legs. Your suggestion of the abdominal pads made a big difference in absorbing drainage and cushioning my stinging feet so I could still do laps and exercise.
Throughout my hospital stay, you made it easy for me to feel comfortable asking for help. Your smile and personality lit up my room with joy and laughter, making my stay in the hospital one to remember.
Thank you and Congratulations on your upcoming 19th anniversary of outstanding nursing!
As expected, there were highs and lows in my hospitalization. The highs were a direct result of your attentiveness and well-honed nursing skills. The lows were short-lived as you advocated for me and acted quickly to help control my pain.
In addition to pain, anxiety overwhelmed me with twice daily showers as a part of my treatment plan. It was an overwhelming ordeal. The cool water and exfoliating stung the open sores and even though the water was a gentle spray, my very sensitive skin burned when the water touched me. Thankfully, each shower culminated in the application of a soothing ointment which calmed my skin and reduced the pain. However, this ointment needed an hour to soak in. As I am a modest, private person, it was extremely disconcerting to spend an hour naked in the bathroom while this occurred.
Ginger, you helped maintain my privacy by making a sign to stop others from entering the room and by going out of your way to help keep me to a schedule. You were so kind to make sure you were available to me on my schedule to wrap my IV for showering and then to return at exactly the right time to apply ointment to the areas I couldn't reach. It may sound silly, but it was a very big deal to me.
Your nineteen years of experience showed in everything you did. You were confident, skilled, compassionate, kind, and attentive. Sometimes it's the smallest things that make the biggest difference. I appreciate all of the little things you did to help with my pain and reduce the discomfort of my weeping legs. Your suggestion of the abdominal pads made a big difference in absorbing drainage and cushioning my stinging feet so I could still do laps and exercise.
Throughout my hospital stay, you made it easy for me to feel comfortable asking for help. Your smile and personality lit up my room with joy and laughter, making my stay in the hospital one to remember.
Thank you and Congratulations on your upcoming 19th anniversary of outstanding nursing!