My husband was admitted through the ER with an infected artificial knee. The knee had been replaced 6 weeks earlier and he had gradually increased to walking 1-2 miles per day, a wonderful recovery. Overnight the knee became so painful and swollen that he could not walk or bear any weight on it. This progressed to vomiting and fever. It took several days to diagnose and determine he needed surgery to debride and irrigate the knee followed by 6 weeks of home IV antibiotics. He was becoming more and more agitated and depressed with the thought of losing the knee and very fearful of another surgery.

When he woke up in the recovery room he was in excruciating pain. Kim was relentless in getting him relief. She called both the anesthesia and surgical team for additional pain medication. That was a huge help what helped more was how she treated him she showed so much understanding compassion and concern for him it really helped to calm him. Kim took care of the pain but also all the small things to make him more comfortable from positioning to getting him some water and food. She was so good at explaining everything to him in a way he could understand it was very reassuring. When it was time to leave RR he was calm and relaxed. Kim even stayed after her shift to make sure the transfer to the floor went well so he did not have a different nurse for his last hour in the Recovery Room.

Two weeks later I had outpatient surgery and work up to find she was my nurse what a wonderful feeling when I saw her. I knew I was in good hands. I have been a nurse for 44 years Kim exemplifies what nursing is all about- an expert in her field who is caring and compassionate always putting the patients first.