Kristin Coomes
August 2022
Kristin
Coomes
,
BSN, RN, MedSurg-BC
Nursing Resource Team
WellSpan York Hospital
York
,
PA
United States
Not only did Kristin demonstrate great care and compassion for her patient, but she had also just as much care and compassion for me.
During my husband's hospital stay prior to his death, we received exceptional care above and beyond from Kristin Coomes. After being transferred to the floor from the ICU, Kristin was assigned as his nurse. He was having difficulty breathing and had to be in an upright position, and he was unable to get out of bed. Kristin felt that he was not comfortable in his bed, and during one shift, she got a different bed for him that she felt put him in a better position. When he commented that his hip hurt, she got padding for his hips and an air pump for his mattress. He was also experiencing back pain and she got him a heating pad to try to alleviate the pain he was experiencing. She did all these things in one shift to make my husband as comfortable as possible, all while caring for her other patients. Her compassion and care for him, as well as for myself, was beyond measure. It meant more to us than she knew.
Not only did Kristin demonstrate great care and compassion for her patient, but she had also just as much care and compassion for me. She held me and hugged me as I broke down in the hall after getting the news that my husband's outcome was not going to be the one we had hoped for. I would not have my emotional breakdowns in front of my husband, as it made his breathing more difficult. Even on the days Kristin was not caring for him, she still took time to check on both of us and she will never know what a comfort this was to us. Kristin provided me as much care and compassion as she did him. We met in the hallway, and she allowed me to pour out my emotions in her arms. I could feel her emotions too. Allowing me to do that helped me to be strong for my husband when he needed me the most.
On the day of my husband's celebration of life, to my shock and pleasant surprise, there stood Kristin fresh from work and still in her scrubs. The fact that she took the time after work to attend the memorial of a patient who she only met by chance in a hospital stay shows the depth of caring and compassion this nurse possesses. I truly believe this meeting was not by chance, and I will be forever grateful for how she touched my husband's life as well as my own. Kristin, you are the definition of a nurse and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I can never thank her enough for what she did for my husband and myself.
Not only did Kristin demonstrate great care and compassion for her patient, but she had also just as much care and compassion for me. She held me and hugged me as I broke down in the hall after getting the news that my husband's outcome was not going to be the one we had hoped for. I would not have my emotional breakdowns in front of my husband, as it made his breathing more difficult. Even on the days Kristin was not caring for him, she still took time to check on both of us and she will never know what a comfort this was to us. Kristin provided me as much care and compassion as she did him. We met in the hallway, and she allowed me to pour out my emotions in her arms. I could feel her emotions too. Allowing me to do that helped me to be strong for my husband when he needed me the most.
On the day of my husband's celebration of life, to my shock and pleasant surprise, there stood Kristin fresh from work and still in her scrubs. The fact that she took the time after work to attend the memorial of a patient who she only met by chance in a hospital stay shows the depth of caring and compassion this nurse possesses. I truly believe this meeting was not by chance, and I will be forever grateful for how she touched my husband's life as well as my own. Kristin, you are the definition of a nurse and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I can never thank her enough for what she did for my husband and myself.