Barb Carstens
August 2024
Barb
Carstens
,
RN
SBHU
Watertown Regional Medical Center
Watertown
,
WI
United States
Barb put her hand on my shoulder and stated, “I will fight for you!” I thought it was kind of her to say but unfeasible, to say the least. However, she did!
From the day I met Barb, she treated us all like equals. She showed no favoritism. Though things could get a little chaotic, especially around meals, she stayed even-tempered and respectful to us all. She's kind and a sweet soul. Thank you, Barb, for your true care.
***
Barb is an extraordinary advocate who is extremely invested in her patients' well-being in the present moment as well as their discharge. When I arrived on the unit, I was a complete emotional mess. I had a ponytail holder that was given to me as an emotional promise before arriving here at SBHU. It was “mental glue” that was holding me together. It disappeared mysteriously from my room, and I fell apart. Barb came in and told me that she would hunt it down! I didn’t believe her. However, towards the end of her 12 hour shift at the end of the day, something told me to look up. As I did, I saw Barb coming down the hall, holding the ponytail holder up in the air! She found it mixed up in the laundry room. It meant the world to me, whether it sounds silly or not.
The Life changer – I heard rumors about the possibility of going back to the rehab program in which I was in which is likened to Hades. It’s why I landed in here. Mentally abusive and all-around unhealthy. I became hysterical, and I shared my story with Barb, telling her that being sent back would totally wipe out everything that I had accomplished thus far on SBHU for the positive. Barb put her hand on my shoulder and stated, “I will fight for you!” I thought it was kind of her to say but unfeasible, to say the least. However, she did! She shared my story with my planning team of workers, and I was totally blown away when I met with my NP, and she assured me that they were NOT going to send me back to Hades. Barb had kept her word and fought. Not to be terribly dramatic, but she very literally saved my life, and I am forever grateful.
***
Barb is an extraordinary advocate who is extremely invested in her patients' well-being in the present moment as well as their discharge. When I arrived on the unit, I was a complete emotional mess. I had a ponytail holder that was given to me as an emotional promise before arriving here at SBHU. It was “mental glue” that was holding me together. It disappeared mysteriously from my room, and I fell apart. Barb came in and told me that she would hunt it down! I didn’t believe her. However, towards the end of her 12 hour shift at the end of the day, something told me to look up. As I did, I saw Barb coming down the hall, holding the ponytail holder up in the air! She found it mixed up in the laundry room. It meant the world to me, whether it sounds silly or not.
The Life changer – I heard rumors about the possibility of going back to the rehab program in which I was in which is likened to Hades. It’s why I landed in here. Mentally abusive and all-around unhealthy. I became hysterical, and I shared my story with Barb, telling her that being sent back would totally wipe out everything that I had accomplished thus far on SBHU for the positive. Barb put her hand on my shoulder and stated, “I will fight for you!” I thought it was kind of her to say but unfeasible, to say the least. However, she did! She shared my story with my planning team of workers, and I was totally blown away when I met with my NP, and she assured me that they were NOT going to send me back to Hades. Barb had kept her word and fought. Not to be terribly dramatic, but she very literally saved my life, and I am forever grateful.