Kaitlyn Palmer
May 2026
Kaitlyn
Palmer
,
RN
Ascension St. John Medical Center
Tulsa
,
OK
United States
KP was assigned as one of our nurses - it was immediately clear she was a master of caregiving in every way.
Four years ago, my spouse was diagnosed with stage 4B cancer, and we began the intimidating journey of navigating the healthcare system.
A year after diagnosis, an abdominal surgery led to a month-long recovery in the oncology wing, and KP was assigned as one of our nurses - it was immediately clear she was a master of caregiving in every way.
We have been lucky enough to have had KP assigned many times over the years, and three aspects of her exceptional caregiving stand out: accuracy, responsiveness, and compassion.
Accuracy
The bedrock of healthcare, accuracy ensures that everything is done correctly. KP's skillful hands and sharp mind could always be relied upon for outstanding care and consistent accuracy.
KP continually demonstrated a level of expertise that ensured a safe recovery in a variety of circumstances. Despite my spouse having a complex med regimen, KP always delivered with poise and precision.
The pain management routine required special programming of PCA equipment, and KP not only resolved these issues to provide relief when it was needed most, but also taught the settings to several other assigned nurses to spread knowledge for future shifts.
My spouse required routine NG tube replacement, an uncomfortable process often coupled with anxiety. When KP performed the tube swap, everything was extremely smooth and proved the procedure didn't have to be dreaded.
KP's attention to detail went all the way to checking that no caps or trash were left behind after routine med doses. This level of accuracy reassured us that even aspects we didn't usually notice were already handled with utmost care.
Responsiveness
Timing is pivotal in healthcare. Being able to respond and react in a timely fashion, in addition to handling the routine items throughout a shift, highlights the decisive care that stands out during treatment.
KP always had a discrete scheduling plan to keep everything in sync, while also staying flexible to account for the ongoing unpredictability of caregiving. After each room visit, KP would end by saying when her next round was planned, which helped keep us looped into the schedule.
During her rounds, KP was always prepared with a pocket of extra saline flushes, minimizing waiting in line for flushes or a med push. When my spouse encountered a med reaction that impacted breathing, KP was one of the first to react despite being stationed down the hall. Having this quick support eased an otherwise tense situation.
After my spouse was transferred downstairs to an acute care floor but still needed an oncology nurse to administer the weekly chest port dressing change, KP not only volunteered to come down but also handled an early-stage skin irritation that we hadn't noticed - and later that week checked in with us after a long shift to check how the skin was doing.
That timely attention was a regular facet of KP's care and ensured a smooth recovery.
As patient and advocate, we are always understanding of how stretched the staff can be while handling several assigned patients. Through schedule planning and keen awareness, great nurses shine despite an overloaded schedule, and KP was always showing this ability on a busy floor.
Compassion
The element of compassion helps to see the human behind the medical condition. KP showed true heart in every assignment, always going above and beyond to ensure my spouse was comforted and acknowledged.
After chemo caused significant hair loss, KP explained her use of Dutch braids and other short hair tips, which reinforced a positive outlook during the recovery journey.
When my spouse was bummed about missing our dogs during a very long hospital stay, KP shared pictures of her own dog on an outdoor adventure at the lake, bringing my spouse a rare smile that lit up the room.
A full year after our initial assignment with KP, a bilateral neph tube placement caused an unexpected amount of pain, leading to a weeklong hospital stay. KP not only recognized my spouse's name on the shift change handover list (already a feat with so many patients) but made a point to come say hello after her night shift.
This helped me feel like more than just a face in the ever-rotating crowd, but rather someone who was cared for and known.
Yet another year had passed when an additional long hospital recovery occurred. During one of our "stay active" walks around the floor, KP met us with a comforting smile and a friendly wave, asking if we remembered her - the real question is: how could we ever forget?
We've been through many medical facilities over the years of treatment, and we keep returning to St John's Tulsa because of the outstanding people - the foundation of a high level of care.
KP's kindness, intelligence, and expertise define that care. She is a brilliant light in otherwise dark times, and someone that we will always appreciate due to the positive impact on our lives.
A year after diagnosis, an abdominal surgery led to a month-long recovery in the oncology wing, and KP was assigned as one of our nurses - it was immediately clear she was a master of caregiving in every way.
We have been lucky enough to have had KP assigned many times over the years, and three aspects of her exceptional caregiving stand out: accuracy, responsiveness, and compassion.
Accuracy
The bedrock of healthcare, accuracy ensures that everything is done correctly. KP's skillful hands and sharp mind could always be relied upon for outstanding care and consistent accuracy.
KP continually demonstrated a level of expertise that ensured a safe recovery in a variety of circumstances. Despite my spouse having a complex med regimen, KP always delivered with poise and precision.
The pain management routine required special programming of PCA equipment, and KP not only resolved these issues to provide relief when it was needed most, but also taught the settings to several other assigned nurses to spread knowledge for future shifts.
My spouse required routine NG tube replacement, an uncomfortable process often coupled with anxiety. When KP performed the tube swap, everything was extremely smooth and proved the procedure didn't have to be dreaded.
KP's attention to detail went all the way to checking that no caps or trash were left behind after routine med doses. This level of accuracy reassured us that even aspects we didn't usually notice were already handled with utmost care.
Responsiveness
Timing is pivotal in healthcare. Being able to respond and react in a timely fashion, in addition to handling the routine items throughout a shift, highlights the decisive care that stands out during treatment.
KP always had a discrete scheduling plan to keep everything in sync, while also staying flexible to account for the ongoing unpredictability of caregiving. After each room visit, KP would end by saying when her next round was planned, which helped keep us looped into the schedule.
During her rounds, KP was always prepared with a pocket of extra saline flushes, minimizing waiting in line for flushes or a med push. When my spouse encountered a med reaction that impacted breathing, KP was one of the first to react despite being stationed down the hall. Having this quick support eased an otherwise tense situation.
After my spouse was transferred downstairs to an acute care floor but still needed an oncology nurse to administer the weekly chest port dressing change, KP not only volunteered to come down but also handled an early-stage skin irritation that we hadn't noticed - and later that week checked in with us after a long shift to check how the skin was doing.
That timely attention was a regular facet of KP's care and ensured a smooth recovery.
As patient and advocate, we are always understanding of how stretched the staff can be while handling several assigned patients. Through schedule planning and keen awareness, great nurses shine despite an overloaded schedule, and KP was always showing this ability on a busy floor.
Compassion
The element of compassion helps to see the human behind the medical condition. KP showed true heart in every assignment, always going above and beyond to ensure my spouse was comforted and acknowledged.
After chemo caused significant hair loss, KP explained her use of Dutch braids and other short hair tips, which reinforced a positive outlook during the recovery journey.
When my spouse was bummed about missing our dogs during a very long hospital stay, KP shared pictures of her own dog on an outdoor adventure at the lake, bringing my spouse a rare smile that lit up the room.
A full year after our initial assignment with KP, a bilateral neph tube placement caused an unexpected amount of pain, leading to a weeklong hospital stay. KP not only recognized my spouse's name on the shift change handover list (already a feat with so many patients) but made a point to come say hello after her night shift.
This helped me feel like more than just a face in the ever-rotating crowd, but rather someone who was cared for and known.
Yet another year had passed when an additional long hospital recovery occurred. During one of our "stay active" walks around the floor, KP met us with a comforting smile and a friendly wave, asking if we remembered her - the real question is: how could we ever forget?
We've been through many medical facilities over the years of treatment, and we keep returning to St John's Tulsa because of the outstanding people - the foundation of a high level of care.
KP's kindness, intelligence, and expertise define that care. She is a brilliant light in otherwise dark times, and someone that we will always appreciate due to the positive impact on our lives.