The patient was an LTC patient who was noted at times to be combative, aggressive, and often difficult to handle. He had a trach and was a chronic ventilator patient who could not speak, and it was often difficult to communicate with him. He required frequent monitoring and care. This did not deter Katie. The patient was supposed to be sent back to his LTC facility but the transfer was canceled because of his elevated WBC. Katie made it her mission to break way with the patient and gain his trust. She spent extended time with him to ensure she was able to communicate with him, and he was able to make his needs known.

She explained why he wasn’t able to leave and made sure he fully understood his treatment. She was laughing and praising him, “Yay!! You’re doing great!” She made a huge difference for this patient. This is just a single example of the work Katie does on a daily basis. She consistently provides exceptional care to all her patients. She is a team player, and she plays an active role in unit projects.