We brought in a sick and very dirty patient today. With compassion and skill, Kristine gave not only great care but also a thorough cleaning of the patient and the patient’s bed (including all fecal matter), then thought it through and carried out the application of skin balm. She demonstrated all the qualities one could hope for in a medical professional, including inspiring me to be a better physician. She set a great tone for the whole room.

As I wrote this, I realized the most important thing Kristine did was set the tone for the room. She acknowledged and allowed others to acknowledge that this was unpleasant work, but this is what the patient needs, and we can help by providing care. She didn’t enjoy the work (I’m sure), but she did the work with compassion and high spirits. She really helped to make being in the room and caring for the patient an enjoyable and satisfying endeavor.