We’re Here For You: Karyn Kling
Karyn Kling is a certified rehabilitation nurse on the MossRehab brain injury unit.
Here are Karyn’s own words about her role as a rehabilitation nurse and the kind of care that is provided to you at MossRehab.
On the role of a rehabilitation nurse
A rehabilitation nurse works with a patient after they’ve already had a serious accident or catastrophic injury, such as a spinal cord injury, brain injury or stroke. We take care of their medical needs. We also teach the families how to take care of that patient when they go home. And we work with the team to develop a plan of care to get that person at their highest level of independence.
On the thoughtful care that is the hallmark of MossRehab
When families first come in they ask a lot of questions, like “What’s going to happen to my loved one? Are they going to get better?” We try to make people feel at ease and help them to learn what the process is going to be over time and what to expect for therapy and recovery.
Many times when patients come to our unit they have a lot of cognitive issues. They might not even know they’re at a rehab facility. So, we just tell them where they are, we assess their cognition, we try to make them less anxious, more comfortable, and less apprehensive about what’s going on… It’s very individual, the kind of care that the patient receives.
On creating goals and instilling hope for patients and their families
It’s definitely a team approach at MossRehab. From the time the person comes on the unit, the family and the patient are introduced to the nurse, the doctor and all their therapists. From the very first day, certain goals are put in place. The team works together in a collaborative way to make sure that these goals are met or we are at least working toward the goals together.
MossRehab is an environment of hope. When you come in, you see patients that are at a pretty low level and then you see them improve. That’s why I went into rehab. Because you have people who come in and they really need a lot of assistance with their care. They have a lot of medical needs. And then you watch them slowly progress and they’re able to do things more independently. It’s just really inspiring. When they are discharged and come back for an appointment and you see them walking and they look wonderful, you’re just so happy that the patient was able to reach their goals and go home.
Karyn’s philosophy of patient care
My philosophy of patient care is that caring and compassion go a long way. Something as little as helping someone shave or brush their teeth— it just makes such a difference in their day and how they view their life. It can make them feel really human if they’re feeling really down. So, I feel like that little extra thing you can give somebody makes a huge difference.
On receiving the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses 2010 Staff Nurse Role Award
The ARN Staff Role Award is given to a nurse annually. One nurse is chosen throughout the nation and that person is the embodiment of what they feel a rehab nurse should be.
Receiving the award is just an extra bonus on top of something I love to do every day. I enjoy coming to work and taking care of my patients and I’m honored that my peers and fellow nurses see me in that light.
I begin every day, even before I come to work, with an attitude of gratitude. It’s funny to say it, because you hear it all the time, but you wake up in the morning and you’re so thankful that you have a job that you enjoy and that you can go to work and help people that otherwise, without your care, maybe wouldn’t have a good day or maybe wouldn’t have a compassionate person to talk to.