Carrine Fung
December 2022
Carrine
Fung
,
MSN, RN
Davis 14 Ortho/Trauma Unit
UC Davis Medical Center
Sacramento
,
CA
United States
Little does Carrine know, her empathy and compassion got me through the roughest part of my stay.
I want to take this time to express my deepest gratitude for the care provided to me by Carrine Fung during my hospital stay on Davis 14. I’ve been a nurse for 20 years now, the last two being here at UC Davis Medical Center. This week the tables turned, and I found myself on the other side of the hospital bed, as the patient. I had major spine surgery and was admitted to Davis 14 the days following to recover.
As we know being hospitalized is not easy nor is it fun. On POD 2, I found myself in a lot of pain, unable to tolerate any food, and had difficulty with my mobility. I was emotional, frustrated, scared, and homesick. Carrine had been my nurse that day and little does she know, her empathy and compassion got me through the roughest part of my stay. When she first came in she was extremely kind and immediately made me feel secure as I could tell she was very experienced and knowledgeable. She sat with me and went over all my concerns. She always listened and guided my care in a way I felt safe despite the setbacks I was experiencing.
As a nurse, sometimes it’s difficult to turn off our “nursing brain” and we find ourselves still being in nurse mode from our hospital bed. With Carrine caring for me, I felt comfortable enough to turn that part off and simply allow myself to receive: receive care, receive compassion, receive healing. There were times I felt so embarrassed by what was happening with my body, but she immediately comforted me and reassured me that I was in a safe space. She helped me maintain my dignity every step of the way. I knew she had a busy assignment but she never made me feel like I was bothering her, in fact, I felt like her only patient. She took the time to get to know me, to care about my personal story. Carrine cared for me again several days after, when I was on the mend. Even then she continued to advocate for me and helped set the path for my discharge. She cheered me on and was genuinely invested in all the progress I had made in a short time. She has a way about her that makes you feel like you’re more than just a patient, she makes you feel like a friend. Thank you Carrine for being the fantastic nurse that you are and I am profoundly grateful for the care you provided me.
As we know being hospitalized is not easy nor is it fun. On POD 2, I found myself in a lot of pain, unable to tolerate any food, and had difficulty with my mobility. I was emotional, frustrated, scared, and homesick. Carrine had been my nurse that day and little does she know, her empathy and compassion got me through the roughest part of my stay. When she first came in she was extremely kind and immediately made me feel secure as I could tell she was very experienced and knowledgeable. She sat with me and went over all my concerns. She always listened and guided my care in a way I felt safe despite the setbacks I was experiencing.
As a nurse, sometimes it’s difficult to turn off our “nursing brain” and we find ourselves still being in nurse mode from our hospital bed. With Carrine caring for me, I felt comfortable enough to turn that part off and simply allow myself to receive: receive care, receive compassion, receive healing. There were times I felt so embarrassed by what was happening with my body, but she immediately comforted me and reassured me that I was in a safe space. She helped me maintain my dignity every step of the way. I knew she had a busy assignment but she never made me feel like I was bothering her, in fact, I felt like her only patient. She took the time to get to know me, to care about my personal story. Carrine cared for me again several days after, when I was on the mend. Even then she continued to advocate for me and helped set the path for my discharge. She cheered me on and was genuinely invested in all the progress I had made in a short time. She has a way about her that makes you feel like you’re more than just a patient, she makes you feel like a friend. Thank you Carrine for being the fantastic nurse that you are and I am profoundly grateful for the care you provided me.