Kathleen Logan, MS, RN, NPD-BC, MEDSURG-BC

Kathy Logan embodies what it means to be an exceptional nurse educator. She is an experienced, compassionate, forward-thinking professional whose influence extends far beyond the classroom. Every day, Kathy works to advance patient safety, strengthen nursing practice, and empower nurses to become the very best clinicians they can be. She is the person colleagues turn to when they need a solution, a mentor, a helping hand, or simply someone willing to step up.

As a nurse educator, Kathy has overseen the orientation and development of hundreds of nurses, investing personally in the success of each one. She makes herself available whenever needed, often providing individualized coaching and support to help nurses successfully transition into practice. Her approach is both nurturing and challenging. She encourages nurses to ask questions, think critically, seek knowledge, and continually grow as professionals while keeping safe, compassionate patient care at the center of everything they do. Kathy does not simply tell nurses what to do; she teaches them how to think, helping them develop confidence and clinical judgment to make sound decisions independently.

Kathy’s commitment to nurses was evident during the recent EPIC implementation. As an Orange Vest, Kathy was instrumental in preparing staff for the transition to the new documentation system. She utilized the mobile EPIC Express workstations to bring hands-on learning directly to the nurses, creating opportunities for staff to practice and become comfortable with unfamiliar workflows before go-live. Two weeks following implementation, Kathy remained visible and accessible at the bedside, assisting nurses as they were navigating the new System, troubleshooting problems, answering questions, and providing reassurance during a significant organizational transition. She remains a knowledgeable and trusted resource for staff, readily sharing her expertise and helping nurses work through clinical questions and challenges.

Kathy consistently demonstrates this same willingness to step beyond her assigned responsibilities. When our newly created IV Team needed an educator, Kathy volunteered to oversee their onboarding, orientation, and ongoing education. She developed the necessary documentation forms and ensured a smooth orientation process. Along with her colleagues, she identified skill gaps in IV therapy among the nurses, resulting in the addition of venipuncture education in orientation to support safe and effective practice.

Her clinical expertise is another reason nurses rely on Kathy. She is frequently sought out for guidance with complex clinical processes, such as the revised heparin nomogram. Her knowledge, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to make complicated processes understandable help nurses safely navigate dosing, monitoring, and required adjustments. Kathy does not simply provide an answer; she takes the time to ensure the nurse understands the rationale behind the practice and can apply that knowledge safely in the future.

Kathy’s influence extends beyond individual nurses. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and unit leadership to promote professional growth through specialty certification and educational resources, including the Success Pays Program, as well as pursuing higher education and becoming a unit-based champion. Her encouragement and guidance have helped numerous nurses advance on the Clinical Ladder. Kathy recognizes potential in others and inspires them to see that potential in themselves. As co-chair of the CNO Advisory Council, she further extends her leadership beyond Nursing Education, providing a strong voice for nurses and nursing practice at the organizational level.

Several years ago, Kathy played a pivotal role in launching the RN/LPN dyad model on 4 North, helping to safely reintroduce LPNs into the inpatient setting. She developed orientation documents, education materials, and scope of practice guidelines that helped establish a safe and effective model of care that has been expanded to other units at LIJMC and was subsequently shared with other sites across the health system.

Kathy does not simply teach nursing; she inspires nurses. She leads with compassion, serves with humility, thinks boldly, and consistently puts patients, nurses, and the nursing profession first. For her extraordinary contributions, her unwavering dedication, and her profound impact as a Nurse Educator, Kathy is truly deserving of the DAISY Nurse Educator Award.