HUP nurses Beth Costa, left, and Sarah Kaufmann
Sarah Kaufmann, BSN, PCCN, a nurse in HUP’s medical intensive care unit (MICU), has worked at HUP since 2010. While she has always known how “amazing, caring and special HUP nurses are,” she gained a deeper appreciation for her colleagues when she became the patient this summer.
One night in August, Kaufmann said, she ended up in the Emergency Department with severe abdominal pain that was diagnosed as acute appendicitis. After surgery, she woke up in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) to “the nicest nurse ever”: Beth Costa, BSN.
“She was kind, constantly checking on me and making sure my pain was well controlled, but also letting me get my needed rest. She went over my discharge instructions thoroughly and made sure all my questions were answered,” Kaufmann said. “I am so thankful for Beth and the PACU for a wonderful experience. I always knew how important nurses are, but having the actual experience of being a patient is so different and gave me a whole new level of respect and gratitude for my profession.”