CoxHealth Colleagues: Meet Elisa Kruger, a PSA with a paint brush
CoxHealth PSA Elisa Kruger makes paintings for patients when she sits with them.
Elisa Kruger started her CoxHealth journey in late 2021 as a part-time patient safety advisor. In that position, Kruger is tasked with sitting with patients who need some extra help. As she sits with the patients though, she provides a little emotional care in the form of art.
Kruger taught herself how to paint six years ago. She said she was at an art show and said to a vendor, “I’ve always wanted to paint,” and another artist replied, “What’s stopping you?”
She wanted to paint because she wanted to spend time with her husband while he watched tv and she did not care to watch TV. She says she is able to spend time with him and still do something fulfilling.
Bringing that self-taught skill to CoxHealth has also been fulfilling for Kruger.
“I thought that would be perfect, if I got to sit with the patients and I love to help people, I love to try to spread joy. So, I thought well maybe I could make some paintings for them as I sit with them and try to bring them some kind of happiness while they’re in the hospital.”
Many patients love her paintings.
“Sometimes the patient doesn’t even know I painted for them, they may have gotten out of surgery or have dementia and has slept the entire shift, but I still paint something and tack it up in hopes that they’ll smile when they see it.”
When Elisa introduces herself to the patient at the start of her shift, she mentions that she is an artist and asks patients about their hobbies or something that they love and she paints it for them.
“One time a guy was in urgent care and I painted a sunset over the ocean because it’s simple and he goes, ‘Where’s Flipper?!’ and I had to think how do I put Flipper in here! I was able to and it made us both laugh.”
Elisa says providing this extra care as an artist to patients brings her so much joy.
“I don’t have a medical background, I don’t have the schooling to be a nurse or doctor, but to know that I could at least be there with a patient who is either scared or hurting and make them laugh, I love that.”
Elisa also paints for the nursing staff she is working with for that shift. She says nurses are excited to see her and to get one of her paintings.
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