I have had many ANMs during my 25 years at the Cleveland Clinic, and like most people, leaders each had at least one opportunity to focus on. Kate combines a strong work ethic, empathy, clinical expertise and innovation all in one. In the 18 months that we have worked together, she has participated in and published a research study.

She led our Continuous Improvement project that increased our same-day surgery discharges (SDD) from 30% to 49%. She led our Shared Governance team to improve our Patient Experience-Nurse Communication from an abysmal 60th percentile or less to greater than 78.6% in Q4 of 2024. She has impressed me most with her selflessness. When she works an eight-hour shift, she routinely stays well past her 3:30pm end time. She quietly continues her assignment until she is confident that the admissions and discharges are slow and/or her discharges are complete. This process often takes until 5:00 pm or later.

This past winter, we received a patient needing end-of-life care, with a large family. It was decided that the patient transition in an environment where his family could comfortably remain at the bedside. The family was told the plan, and we readied the room. Unfortunately, the family left the ICU waiting room and did not accompany the patient to our unit. First, Kate volunteered to take the patient rather than the new travel nurse in their first shift out of orientation. In the hour after his transfer, Kate managed an admission (post grand mal seizure with chest pain). An admission in severe pain, her other three patients and typical charge nurse duties, all while making sure that her dying patient did so comfortably and not alone.

Kate quietly performs acts like this without fanfare or notice. She is simply a really great nurse and an even better person.