Maria BurKemper
March 2021
Maria
BurKemper
,
RN
Riverside Regional Medical Center
Thank you Maria, you saved my spirit that day
A Thank You letter to Maria BurKemper from a grateful wife of a patient:
Thank you Maria for literally appearing out of nowhere, before your shift even began, to help my husband and me in a stressful, uncomfortable situation. You are definitely a shining example of The Riverside Mission, "To care for others as we would care for those we love." You were, in that moment, our Care Angel.
As a nurse, I know a bedpan is a hygiene tool. As a wife. I knew a bedpan was about to become a barrier to both dignity and morale. You watched some interactions, quickly identified a problem, and asked what you could do to help. The attitude of "that is not my patient" was evidently not a thought as you quickly but calmly and with purpose came to our aid. Later that evening when I learned that you were my husband's nurse for the night, I totally relaxed. I was able to sleep all night for the first time since he had been admitted.
That night I knew my husband was being cared for by not only a competent nurse but also a caring and insightful nurse. You understood the direct link between the comfort of the family caregiver and the patient's confidence. Not only did you step in and rescue a stranger, but you then turned to me, put your hand on my shoulder, and assured me you had this. My blood pressure and pulse rate decreased, and my husband saw my assurance rise.
As a wife and nurse, I know there are parts of both jobs that are very unpleasant. I know nurses have a responsibility to care for their patients with dignity and respect, and sometimes this entails addressing the maintenance of bodily functions. While this is an unpleasant task, the way it was handled can either humiliate the patient or assures them this is no big deal and we’re all human.
I cannot thank you enough for your professionalism, your willingness to take action, and your support. Thank you for demonstrating and re-enforcing the true meaning of our profession. You not only reassured a wife, but you also made a sister-nurse very proud.
I saw this quote and thought of you. “Nurse: just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate anything and soft enough to understand anyone.”
Thank you Maria, you saved my spirit that day and my husband’s dignity.
Thank you Maria for literally appearing out of nowhere, before your shift even began, to help my husband and me in a stressful, uncomfortable situation. You are definitely a shining example of The Riverside Mission, "To care for others as we would care for those we love." You were, in that moment, our Care Angel.
As a nurse, I know a bedpan is a hygiene tool. As a wife. I knew a bedpan was about to become a barrier to both dignity and morale. You watched some interactions, quickly identified a problem, and asked what you could do to help. The attitude of "that is not my patient" was evidently not a thought as you quickly but calmly and with purpose came to our aid. Later that evening when I learned that you were my husband's nurse for the night, I totally relaxed. I was able to sleep all night for the first time since he had been admitted.
That night I knew my husband was being cared for by not only a competent nurse but also a caring and insightful nurse. You understood the direct link between the comfort of the family caregiver and the patient's confidence. Not only did you step in and rescue a stranger, but you then turned to me, put your hand on my shoulder, and assured me you had this. My blood pressure and pulse rate decreased, and my husband saw my assurance rise.
As a wife and nurse, I know there are parts of both jobs that are very unpleasant. I know nurses have a responsibility to care for their patients with dignity and respect, and sometimes this entails addressing the maintenance of bodily functions. While this is an unpleasant task, the way it was handled can either humiliate the patient or assures them this is no big deal and we’re all human.
I cannot thank you enough for your professionalism, your willingness to take action, and your support. Thank you for demonstrating and re-enforcing the true meaning of our profession. You not only reassured a wife, but you also made a sister-nurse very proud.
I saw this quote and thought of you. “Nurse: just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate anything and soft enough to understand anyone.”
Thank you Maria, you saved my spirit that day and my husband’s dignity.