Kati Shade
October 2025
Kati
Shade
,
RN
Pediatric Emergency Department
St. Luke's University Hospital
Bethlehem
,
PA
United States
I was recently at St. Lukes pediatric ER for my 3.5 year old son. The emotions for my husband and I were unsteady as we had no idea what was causing a suspicious, painful rash that did not present like any other rash I have seen in my almost 15 years as being a nurse.
I initially assumed it was an allergic reaction, treated him with Benadryl, Motrin and a visit to the local urgent care. They also agreed it was probably an allergic reaction. He was prescribed oral and topical steroids with absolutely no improvement.
When he woke up the next morning with sloughed skin between his buttocks, exacerbated rash and pain, I knew it was something different. It was a gut feeling. I wasn't a nurse that day; I was a mother who was highly concerned for her son.
There were multiple wonderful staff members in your ED that day, whom I cannot express how deeply thankful we are for all of their help. There was one nurse who particularly stood out to us, and her name is Kati A Shade.
She was not only wonderful with our son but also extremely empathetic to my husband and me. She took us all under her wing, and I can't express how truly grateful we are for her amazing care, kindness, sense of ease with her presence, expertise and skills.
Although my son was beyond uncomfortable and progressively getting worse, she was the one who identified that he was showing early signs of Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, as the pediatrician was still perplexed, as they are used to seeing it in later stages. She alerted the doctors, residents and the surrounding coworkers of her proposed diagnosis, and we cannot begin to express how thankful we are for her quick, competent, thorough assessment in finding this highly probable cause of what we found out to be a potentially life-threatening rash.
Once she notified them of her proposed diagnosis, they reached out to Dermatology for further evaluation and consultation. While we waited she very kindly spoke to my husband and I to prepare us for the next steps. I highly appreciate being informed and guided through any situation.
She took her time with us, explaining what the rash most likely is and preparing us for our son to be treated as if he were a burn victim. She prepared the IV setup as she spoke, as he would need fluids, pain management and antibiotics to tackle the staph causing the rash.
She included us in the plan of care and explained how to proceed in getting a successful IV site for him. She explained she has seen this rash a handful of times, and it was showing classic signs of SSSS. Of course, my husband and I were just taking it all in and processing as our son was sitting in a hospital stretcher, progressively getting worse, but content with his tablet. Thankfully, it was an amazing distraction.
As Kati had suggested, the doctors agreed with SSSS as the potential diagnosis, but also could not rule out Stevens-Johnson syndrome or Kawasaki. I'll never forget the resident's face as he told us the severity of each syndrome. I was just praying for complete healing.
Once Kati was given the go-ahead, she was amazing with preparing our son for the IV placement. We helped her papoose him, and honestly, she distracted him mainly. Another nurse helped her as my husband and I tried to distract him as well as safely secure him from moving.
She was so quick with the IV and was successful on her first try, our son didn't even flinch as she did it. She was so extremely good with him, guided us to keep our focus on our son's well-being and steer him in the direction of his healing.
After he had some Morphine he was calmer and able to rest a bit. The dermatology resident was next to evaluate our son and needed to perform a punch biopsy of one of the areas of the rash to fully confirm the SSSS diagnosis.
I immediately requested that Kati be brought into the room to help with a smooth biopsy. She was on break, but thankfully returned just in time for it. She so calmly said, "Hey buddy! You are doing amazing! Stay nice and still, and it will all be over soon!"
Our son, my husband and I just had a sense of confidence in her and a trust that really shaped our entire ED experience, and we cannot express how thankful we are for everything she did for us that day.
She was truly an angel for us that day, and as I cry while writing this. She is an amazing example of why I became a nurse to begin with.
It's a profession I truly am passionate about, and I know Kati is everything the DAISY Award represents.
Thank you so much again, from the bottom of our hearts. Kati has made an everlasting imprint on our hearts, and she will never be forgotten. Our son is doing amazing and back to himself, thanks to her initial nursing instinct and confidence in her judgement.
Keep being the amazing nurse that you are; many others will and do appreciate you!
I initially assumed it was an allergic reaction, treated him with Benadryl, Motrin and a visit to the local urgent care. They also agreed it was probably an allergic reaction. He was prescribed oral and topical steroids with absolutely no improvement.
When he woke up the next morning with sloughed skin between his buttocks, exacerbated rash and pain, I knew it was something different. It was a gut feeling. I wasn't a nurse that day; I was a mother who was highly concerned for her son.
There were multiple wonderful staff members in your ED that day, whom I cannot express how deeply thankful we are for all of their help. There was one nurse who particularly stood out to us, and her name is Kati A Shade.
She was not only wonderful with our son but also extremely empathetic to my husband and me. She took us all under her wing, and I can't express how truly grateful we are for her amazing care, kindness, sense of ease with her presence, expertise and skills.
Although my son was beyond uncomfortable and progressively getting worse, she was the one who identified that he was showing early signs of Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, as the pediatrician was still perplexed, as they are used to seeing it in later stages. She alerted the doctors, residents and the surrounding coworkers of her proposed diagnosis, and we cannot begin to express how thankful we are for her quick, competent, thorough assessment in finding this highly probable cause of what we found out to be a potentially life-threatening rash.
Once she notified them of her proposed diagnosis, they reached out to Dermatology for further evaluation and consultation. While we waited she very kindly spoke to my husband and I to prepare us for the next steps. I highly appreciate being informed and guided through any situation.
She took her time with us, explaining what the rash most likely is and preparing us for our son to be treated as if he were a burn victim. She prepared the IV setup as she spoke, as he would need fluids, pain management and antibiotics to tackle the staph causing the rash.
She included us in the plan of care and explained how to proceed in getting a successful IV site for him. She explained she has seen this rash a handful of times, and it was showing classic signs of SSSS. Of course, my husband and I were just taking it all in and processing as our son was sitting in a hospital stretcher, progressively getting worse, but content with his tablet. Thankfully, it was an amazing distraction.
As Kati had suggested, the doctors agreed with SSSS as the potential diagnosis, but also could not rule out Stevens-Johnson syndrome or Kawasaki. I'll never forget the resident's face as he told us the severity of each syndrome. I was just praying for complete healing.
Once Kati was given the go-ahead, she was amazing with preparing our son for the IV placement. We helped her papoose him, and honestly, she distracted him mainly. Another nurse helped her as my husband and I tried to distract him as well as safely secure him from moving.
She was so quick with the IV and was successful on her first try, our son didn't even flinch as she did it. She was so extremely good with him, guided us to keep our focus on our son's well-being and steer him in the direction of his healing.
After he had some Morphine he was calmer and able to rest a bit. The dermatology resident was next to evaluate our son and needed to perform a punch biopsy of one of the areas of the rash to fully confirm the SSSS diagnosis.
I immediately requested that Kati be brought into the room to help with a smooth biopsy. She was on break, but thankfully returned just in time for it. She so calmly said, "Hey buddy! You are doing amazing! Stay nice and still, and it will all be over soon!"
Our son, my husband and I just had a sense of confidence in her and a trust that really shaped our entire ED experience, and we cannot express how thankful we are for everything she did for us that day.
She was truly an angel for us that day, and as I cry while writing this. She is an amazing example of why I became a nurse to begin with.
It's a profession I truly am passionate about, and I know Kati is everything the DAISY Award represents.
Thank you so much again, from the bottom of our hearts. Kati has made an everlasting imprint on our hearts, and she will never be forgotten. Our son is doing amazing and back to himself, thanks to her initial nursing instinct and confidence in her judgement.
Keep being the amazing nurse that you are; many others will and do appreciate you!