Amanda Klavins, MSM, RN, CCRN

These last few months have been some of the busiest the ECMO team has experienced in recent years, consistently having 2-5 kids on pump at a time. And Amanda plays a huge role on our team and in our hospital’s ability to support and manage these patients. Amanda has been a fierce advocate for our team’s staffing needs; when it comes to our team wanting to pick up and do the extra, but also determining when we need a break and help from the outside. She continues to check in frequently and consistently and genuinely considers her staff in her decisions. (I’m sure EIC knows her number by heart at this point between asking for a specialist and canceling a specialist).

In addition, her support extends beyond her office and normal hours. There have been many, many days in the last few months where Amanda has been in patient rooms and on the units helping with PT/OT, circuit changes, water drills, and breaks more than she has been in meetings and her office (which I’m sure puts more on her plate to catch up on). I’ve heard her say, “My parents wanted time with my baby, so I thought I would come in and help for a few hours” on her day off. This is above and beyond to me as a manager, and it shows that she genuinely cares for her staff and our patients and is hypersensitive to what her staff needs. She also doesn't ask her staff to do the most without matching that energy.

Despite the heavy ECMO load, she still takes the time to check in with us every shift, to check on our well-being, on whether we need anything, and just to chat! I have never felt an expectation to see my manager weekly, but it would be very rare to go a week without seeing or hearing from Amanda. I truly feel her exceptional work and care for her team, whether DAISY is worthy. Thanks, Amanda!