Ruth Kainer receives 'Good Samaritan' award

RUTH KAINER

Ruth Kainer, RN, was the 2007 recipient of the Good Samaritan Foundation Excellence in Nursing Award for the category of Home Healthcare and Hospice Nurse. Kainer serves as director of special services and programs for Houston Hospice. The Excellence in Nursing Awards Luncheon was held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston.

The Excellence in Nursing Award honors registered nurses who have demonstrated a passion for and desire to excel beyond others' expectations. It is an award that pays tribute to nurses whose commitment to the sick outweighs their need to seek publicity.

Kainer has been a registered nurse since 1973 and has been with Houston Hospice for eight years. As director of special services and programs for Houston Hospice, she has overseen the nursing home liaison, patient care manager and office manager for the El Campo delivery site.

She developed and implemented the Pampering Moments program in El Campo where personalized care is provided to patients by certified nurse aides. In addition to the responsibilities at the El Campo site, she is the lead person for the clinical implementation of the electronic medical records. This is a project that will put Houston Hospice at the cutting edge of end-of-life care and technology.

Kainer was born and raised in El Campo, and graduated from the Hermann Hospital School of Nursing.

She says that one of the most rewarding things about her job is helping other people identify their passion and providing guidance to them in this specialized area of nursing.

"I am passionate about having hospice services available to and understood by as many individuals as possible and to facilitate patients and families feeling empowered and in control of as much as possible at this stage of their lives," she said.

From personal experiences, Kainer believes having hospice around when her mother passed away several years ago would have been helpful.

"When my mother died 26 years ago, hospice care wasn't available," she said. "When I look back, it would have been so helpful to her and my family. During my entire nursing career, I've always been adamant about patients knowing and understanding their care options."

She especially feels rewarded when she knows that she and the dedicated staff at Houston Hospice have provided quality end-of-life care to patients and their loved ones. Kainer's exceptional listening skills are attributed to her expertise in patient care.

"I allow others to tell me their story, validate their feelings, be nonjudgmental about their decisions, and assist with problem solving and prioritizing," Kainer said. "Having personally been through the experience with several family members enables me to relate to some of the issues patients and families are dealing with."

Kainer is one of 96 Houston Hospice nurses that provide hospice care throughout Harris County and 10 surrounding counties.

President & CEO of Houston Hospice Jim Monahan says, "Through her many contributions to the field of hospice care, Ruth plays a vital role in changing the face of end-of-life care. We are very proud of her."

"It's very humbling to be selected to receive this award," Kainer said.

"There are many individuals who do outstanding work in the hospice and home care arena, and to receive this recognition is truly the highlight of my years working in hospice."