Kerstine Auguste
August 2013
Kerstine
Auguste
,
BSN, RN
Medical ICU
UF Health
Gainesville
,
FL
United States
Every day, nurses show enormous compassion and caring toward their patients which goes unnoticed. However, one day last week I noticed just such an act of love and compassion displayed by Kerstine Auguste, BSN, RN toward her patient and the patient's family.
Kerstine cared for this patient along with her orientee, Rose, during most of her scheduled days over the past few weeks and had developed a connection with the patient as well as with her family. The time came when the patient's family made the difficult decision to withdraw life support and they could not bear the pain of watching her die. They had been there for the patient all her life to help her deal with many health conditions and live her life to the fullest and the pain was more than they could seem to bear. Kerstine and Rose were working on this day and I know by the letter the patient's sister shared with me that knowing Kerstine was there gave them comfort during this time. The patient's sister gave us this letter the day the patient died:
"I want to acknowledge the kindness and professionalism of your staff in caring for my sister. Kerstine stands out as exceptional. She was absolute perfection in terms of providing comprehensive care of the patient and the very large family which I would characterize as the heard of buffaloes. She managed us with patience and grace, always putting her patient's needs first. I can safely say that she is one of the best nurses I have worked with as a former ICU nurse myself, as a physician, and/or as a family member. Over 46 years of my sister's tumultuous health, we have ridden the roller coaster. Thank you so much for helping us with this last earthly ride."
Kerstine ensured her patient had adequate pain control, and her life support was removed. As her patient slowly passed from this world, she stood by her side softly stroking her hair and ensuring she was not alone in her final moments of life. All the while, most likely without even knowing, Kerstine was passing on the importance of caring, the "art of nursing," to her orientee who also stood at the bedside with the patient she had cared for over the past few weeks.
Kerstine cared for this patient along with her orientee, Rose, during most of her scheduled days over the past few weeks and had developed a connection with the patient as well as with her family. The time came when the patient's family made the difficult decision to withdraw life support and they could not bear the pain of watching her die. They had been there for the patient all her life to help her deal with many health conditions and live her life to the fullest and the pain was more than they could seem to bear. Kerstine and Rose were working on this day and I know by the letter the patient's sister shared with me that knowing Kerstine was there gave them comfort during this time. The patient's sister gave us this letter the day the patient died:
"I want to acknowledge the kindness and professionalism of your staff in caring for my sister. Kerstine stands out as exceptional. She was absolute perfection in terms of providing comprehensive care of the patient and the very large family which I would characterize as the heard of buffaloes. She managed us with patience and grace, always putting her patient's needs first. I can safely say that she is one of the best nurses I have worked with as a former ICU nurse myself, as a physician, and/or as a family member. Over 46 years of my sister's tumultuous health, we have ridden the roller coaster. Thank you so much for helping us with this last earthly ride."
Kerstine ensured her patient had adequate pain control, and her life support was removed. As her patient slowly passed from this world, she stood by her side softly stroking her hair and ensuring she was not alone in her final moments of life. All the while, most likely without even knowing, Kerstine was passing on the importance of caring, the "art of nursing," to her orientee who also stood at the bedside with the patient she had cared for over the past few weeks.