Wendi Kohnert

Text version of Wendi Kohnert's keynote remarks

I am Wendi Kohnert, Charge Nurse in the Med/Surg Department at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Being present and in the moment.  This is what I strive for when caring for our patients. I put everything aside when entering a patient’s room so that I can be present with them.

When I started out as a new nurse, I was a little afraid that I would not have what it takes to meet the needs of my patients.  Being present and in the moment started for me then. 

One evening, early in my nursing career, I had the honor to care for a patient whom I will call Helen.  Helen had been in our hospital many times. During this stay, I was her caregiver. Our hospital was very busy, and I had come in to work extra that day—which made what happened even more special. 

There were so many things that needed to be done - it was hard to think straight. But I knew I needed to feed Helen her dinner.  After completing a few other tasks, I grabbed Helen’s tray and headed into her room.  I took a deep breath and told myself “let go and just be with Helen.”  I sat beside her bed as we shared our routine for a fifth evening in a row.  I asked her if she was comfortable—she did not respond.  I asked her if she was ready to have dinner—again, no response.  Helen was aphasic.  She could not talk.  Her son had told me she had not spoken since her stroke five years ago.  Her face was expressionless.  It was as if her mind was at a faraway place and all that was left with us was her body.  Nonetheless, we carried on.

As I had done before, I talked to Helen about the weather, the news and what was happening in the world.  I was telling her that her next bite looked to be green beans and to let me know if she liked them.  That’s when it happened.  Helen’s face was suddenly full of emotion.  She turned to me and said very clearly: “You have been so kind to me.”

I was stunned.  I wanted her to tell me if she was having any pain or if there was something else I could be doing for her.  I hoped that she would comment on the green beans -- anything!  But- just as suddenly, Helen’s face became expressionless and she did not speak again.

I started to think I had imagined the whole thing but the patient in the bed next to Helen agreed that she had spoken. Helen passed away a few weeks later and I attended her funeral. I quietly thanked her for sharing her last words with me. 

We share “the healing presence of God with our patients every day.  We are there for our patients when they are most vulnerable.  For me, being present and sharing each moment with my patients is how I share the “healing presence of God”.  Once in awhile, God let’s us know we are fulfilling that mission.  I will always remember Helen, because she confirmed that I had found my calling.  My memories of Helen remind me that “being present” is really the most important thing I can do for my patients.