Nursing theorist, Dr. Jean Watson, speaks about the art of caring and how with each patient we are given the opportunity to make a difference.  Her words "pause to care" are certainly the anthem by which Kyla Stiles lives and provides care to each patient and their family members.  Compassion and empathy are Kyla's approach as she sees beyond the patient's disease process and intertwines the basic human needs of being seen, heard and touched to create a healing environment.  Losing one's health is never an easy fate to reconcile and many patients and their family members are left feeling inadequate, afraid, and overwhelmed by the prospect of relinquishing control over the quality of life. 

I have witnessed Kyla's unwavering approach to patient care on several occasions. However, this specific event enticed me to share her unassuming pursuit in providing exceptional nursing care.  After a particularly challenging assignment on her previous shift, Kyla was back the next day to demonstrate her commitment yet again to the nursing profession with a seemingly unending source of patience, calm, and a respectful demeanor. 

A family member, the daughter of one of Kyla's patients, had called in to speak with her.  Despite having an orientee, other patients to care for (one of whom was in and out of restraints due to challenging behaviors), and interdisciplinary team members vying for her attention, Kyla spent over an hour on the phone with the daughter giving her updates, discussing the plan of care and, more importantly, reassuring the daughter that her mother was being well cared for during her admission.  Kyla went as far as to set up a Zoom call between the daughter and patient, giving the daughter peace of mind and the patient a moment familiarity.  Shortly thereafter, Kyla was approached by a member of a treatment team for another patient who expressed some disapproval that they had been attempting to reach her by phone to no avail.  Ever gracious, Kyla did not offer up a synopsis of her hectic day to excuse being unable to answer a phone call, but simply apologized and then proceeded to assist the team member in their endeavor.  It was in this moment that I felt this story could not go untold and was compelled to not just tell her in person how impressed I was with her patient care, but to share with others so that, by her example, we can understand the magnitude behind the words "pause to care." 

In the hustle of the inpatient setting, it can be easy to reduce patient care to a sequenced and repetitive set of procedures that seem distant and casual.  However, Kyla purposefully works with awareness seeking to foster a collaborative relationship with patients and their family members that mitigates anxiety and stress resulting in an optimistic outlook on recovery.  Kyla Stiles is an inspiration to those around her, enticing others to approach patient care with commitment, conscience competence, compassion, and confidence.