September 2022
David
Kersting
,
ARNP
Emergency Department
UofL Hospital
Louisville
,
KY
United States
David stopped what he was doing, put his hands on her shoulders, looked her in the eyes, and said, “I believe you. We, believe you and we are going to take care of her.”
One day, David Kersting, ARNP was helping during a staffing crisis and was working in triage. On this date, he acted with the highest level of compassion for his patient and their family. A woman brought her mother into the ED at UL in an act of desperation. Apparently, over the last week, the daughter had taken her mother to several other providers/facilities but was not getting any answers about the rapidly deteriorating condition of her mother. We had no rooms/ beds available in the emergency department at this time. We had just had multiple critical patients come into the department as well. David brought the patient and daughter to a room so that the providers could assess her mother. The daughter broke down and became hysterical saying, “It just seems like no one is listening or believes me. I’m telling you; something is wrong with my mother.” David stopped what he was doing, put his hands on her shoulders, looked her in the eyes, and said, “I believe you. We, believe you and we are going to take care of her.” Then he just hugged her, and the daughter fell into him and sobbed. I can personally attest to the impact this single act of compassion had on someone. I was on the end of a simple hug and someone assuring me that they believed me. To this day, I will always have the utmost respect for that nurse. It has had a lasting impact. For me, I will always have a positive memory associated with that facility and that nurse. David is a DAISY Nurse for this simple but powerful act of compassion. A small token for an employee who represented ULH in such an impactful way. Something that will outlive all of us. At some point during the interaction, the daughter said she was told to go to UL because they (we) are the best. On this day, David Kersting proved it! Especially, in the minds and hearts of that family.