Seven Years of Trust
For one Oak Medical resident, finding herself back in the care of a nurse she’d known for years meant more than continuity. It meant having someone she already trusted by her side.
Seven years ago, one of Oak Medical’s residents met a nurse named Carissa.
At the time, Carissa was an RN caring for her through another healthcare organization. Over the years, their relationship grew beyond appointments and clinical care. Carissa became someone she knew, trusted, and looked forward to seeing.
Eventually, their paths separated.
When Carissa left the organization, the resident remembers hoping they might someday cross again.
“I prayed that I would still be able to have Carissa as my nurse someday.”
Years later, they did.
Today, Carissa is a nurse practitioner with Oak Medical and once again helps care for the same woman she first met seven years ago.
When asked what having Carissa back in her life means, her answer was simple:
“I trust her completely.”
For this resident, that trust carries particular meaning. Without family living nearby, having a healthcare provider who knows her and with whom she already shares years of familiarity provides a sense of connection and comfort.
Care Built on Relationships
At Oak Medical, we talk often about relationship-centered care. Stories like this show what that can mean in someone’s life.
Healthcare is clinical. But it’s also deeply personal.
It’s remembering someone’s history. Listening. Showing up. Building trust over time. And creating relationships that can make navigating healthcare feel a little less unfamiliar.
For Carissa and this resident, that relationship has already lasted seven years.
And their story isn’t finished yet.
This story is shared with permission. The resident’s name and identifying information have been withheld to protect her privacy