I am a 76-year-old, retired Army LTC with decades of experience in hospitality management from Army Clubs to Armed Forces resorts in Germany, Korea, and Hawaii, including the Hale Koa Hotel. Any success I had was only possible by identifying motivated team members with exceptional people skills. I think you have one at Tripler in this Nurse. She meets the selection criteria of all T.A.M.C.

I was admitted with bloody stool through the Tripler ER  to Ward 6B1 under the nursing care of Kristina. We arrived together at the start of her day shift.

Her demonstration of professional care and congenial bedside manner were attributes you would want in any nurse treating you. She exuded confidence and quickly formed a close bond of trust with my wife and me.

I learned of her educational background and pursuit of further training to improve her knowledge and skills. This included volunteering for extra shifts to shadow RRT/ICU operations. She actually introduced me to floating members of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) earlier in the day, reflecting her continuous team building and possibly foreseeing my future needs.

While my labs had steadied and others of the treatment team seemed comforted, this Nurse foresaw the potential need for a second IV and installed one should a blood transfusion be required.

I cannot imagine being in better care than under Kristina!

Just before the end of the shift, I was excited about being visited by my grandchildren. My daughter had left the room to retrieve them from the lobby. I elected to complete a bowel movement before their arrival.

Unfortunately, when I lifted myself up off the toilet to check its contents, I found my gown soiled and spreading blood across the floor. I knelt on the floor and thought I might be able to clean myself before the arrival of my grandchildren. I was rushed and not thinking clearly which would have me reaching for the nurse call cord.

Unfortunately, I slipped on some blood trying to rise and twisted my knee, wedging in the corner outside the shower basin. I suddenly could not deny the release of the remainder of my bowel movement, which began to cover the floor under me.

I panicked and went into shock, experiencing all the symptoms I had learned in ski patroller training. Nausea caused me to vomit, but I was still able to empty my stomach contents into the back of the toilet. I felt lightheaded but was thankfully already on the floor. The chills with the opposing sweat began.

I pounded on the door to alert my wife to call for the nurse. She raced down the hallway to this Nurse, who activated the RRT.

I was unaware who lifted me onto the gurney, but I recognized Kristina's comforting voice on transport to the ICU in the midst of others going through the protocol of questions of an expected fall victim.

As she seemed to foresee, I did need the RRT, and I did need two units of blood.

She had earlier established a rapport with my wife and given us confidence and trust that we were under the care of an exceptional nurse of the highest standards. When my trauma incident occurred, my wife knew who she should and wanted to call to my aid.

She observed Kristina take charge of the situation and direct the RRT in lifting me onto the bed and on the way to the ICU. My wife was confident I was in good hands.

Well past the end of her day shift, she stayed to comfort and inform my wife of my status. She shared her confidence that I was being cared for by a team she knew well.

Kristina also made a special effort to reach me to explain that the continuity of care was being fulfilled as she left me in the hands of the ICU team. She said she would see me in the morning.

While there was a massive team response and many to thank, I believe it’s not wrong that my wife praises this Nurse for saving my life!