Krystal Morales
July 2016
Krystal
Morales
,
RN
Radiation/Oncology Unit
CHI Franciscan Health - St. Francis Hospital
Federal Way
,
WA
United States
Loving, caring, thoughtful, genuine, funny, happy, great teacher, smart and empathetic are all words that come to mind as I describe my chemo nurse Krystal Morales.
Krystal met us on day one of a 22-week chemo journey. I've been a nurse for 34 years but not an oncology nurse. When it's your turn to be the patient, it's interesting to see how quickly you lose all knowledge you had and look to your nurse for answers and support. Krystal greeted my husband and me with a huge hug and immediately began to calmly teach both of us what to expect. We fell in love with her and we were so reassured when she told us she'd be with us the entire journey. There are just no words to express the way that feels when you are frightened and in a fight for your life. After all we've been through; here was our point of stability and confidence for both my husband and me.
I just completed my third treatment of four of what is fondly called "the red devil". Sounds so ominous…Yet we have spent four hours during my infusions laughing and giggling. She's serious when she needs to be (always checking two identifiers, always washing her hands, always doing a thorough admission) but always smiling and not just loving me, but my friends and my family as well.
After my first chemo and Neulasta injection I had my labs drawn. The way Krystal cared for my port is as if she has had one. Accessing a port can be very scary. We both anticipated my white count would be quite high due to the Nuelasta and when it came back dangerously low, she called me personally to share the results and I felt as if she were giving the results to her own family. Her empathy and concern are genuine and was incredibly reassuring. As a side note, she had a valid concern as we were having a head shaving party with 50 of our closest friends and family and my white count was at a point that I should not have been around many others. Krystal has learned very quickly that I am a bit of a rebel and she has been super supportive of that. She understands the need for cancer patients to continue to live as well. It's a delicate balance.
Krystal's ability to create a "wow" experience for us with compassion and empathetic caring is off the charts. She is more deserving of this DAISY Award than anyone I know.
Krystal met us on day one of a 22-week chemo journey. I've been a nurse for 34 years but not an oncology nurse. When it's your turn to be the patient, it's interesting to see how quickly you lose all knowledge you had and look to your nurse for answers and support. Krystal greeted my husband and me with a huge hug and immediately began to calmly teach both of us what to expect. We fell in love with her and we were so reassured when she told us she'd be with us the entire journey. There are just no words to express the way that feels when you are frightened and in a fight for your life. After all we've been through; here was our point of stability and confidence for both my husband and me.
I just completed my third treatment of four of what is fondly called "the red devil". Sounds so ominous…Yet we have spent four hours during my infusions laughing and giggling. She's serious when she needs to be (always checking two identifiers, always washing her hands, always doing a thorough admission) but always smiling and not just loving me, but my friends and my family as well.
After my first chemo and Neulasta injection I had my labs drawn. The way Krystal cared for my port is as if she has had one. Accessing a port can be very scary. We both anticipated my white count would be quite high due to the Nuelasta and when it came back dangerously low, she called me personally to share the results and I felt as if she were giving the results to her own family. Her empathy and concern are genuine and was incredibly reassuring. As a side note, she had a valid concern as we were having a head shaving party with 50 of our closest friends and family and my white count was at a point that I should not have been around many others. Krystal has learned very quickly that I am a bit of a rebel and she has been super supportive of that. She understands the need for cancer patients to continue to live as well. It's a delicate balance.
Krystal's ability to create a "wow" experience for us with compassion and empathetic caring is off the charts. She is more deserving of this DAISY Award than anyone I know.