My husband had a hip surgery. He completed his therapy and was discharged. Despite following the post op instructions, he experienced three dislocations of that hip during the next two weeks, after 3 emergency room visits, he was transferred to KMC for surgery. Needless to say, both my husband and I were frightened, angry, worried, anxious, and exhausted.

We had the good fortune of having Kris care for him post-operatively. My first encounter with Kris was when I was sent to his room from the surgery waiting room. I found Kris in his room, preparing it for his admission. Her efficiency combined with her compassionate demeanor immediately put me at ease. She allowed me to observe as she and another nurse performed a 2-person skin assessment and listened attentively to my concerns about his skin condition. She immediately developed a plan to protect his skin and communicated that plan to both my husband and me. Her level of knowledge of orthopedic nursing combined with her quiet confidence impressed me greatly. I have been a nurse for 46 years and can quickly identify someone who loves her job and uses critical thinking to achieve the best outcomes.

Kris made sure to interact with the surgeon, PTA, OTA, PCT and us showing appreciation for teamwork. Again, I must point out her quiet confidence and mutual respect as she communicated with the members of all these different professions. All members of the team were careful to update the “white board” so that we could all work toward common goals. Both my husband and I felt safe in Kris’ care. She alleviated our fear and anxiety by demonstrating a truly caring approach, as well as making sure we knew she was going to do whatever it took to help my husband heal properly.