Our 16 days in the hospital were not fun as our son was seriously ill and without the ability to verbally communicate his needs, pain, or fears. I was able to spend 24 hours a day in his room. I interacted with many outstanding nurses. Katie was special. Her presence made a huge impression on me. She always made a point of coming directly to our son and would acknowledge him with a smile and a verbal greeting. He has special needs and the stay was exceptionally traumatic for him.
Katie's professional demeanor was sprinkled with kindness, caring words, and she always had the time to give accurate explanations of current or future medical procedures. She was professional but also demonstrated an eager desire to be there in the present for us. She was sweet and had a delightful sense of humor. I will never forget her kindness and how thorough she was when we had questions. I felt like she was our personal advocate; when we had an issue concerning a disagreement with a discharge plan, she waited patiently, listened quietly, and privately helped us work through the issue. She was not judgmental but rather exceptionally professional. We were grateful for that professional behavior.
Making the human connection not only with the patient but also with the families is a skill not always present with a busy schedule for nurses. Katie excelled in this area. We are grateful that our last days in the hospital were spent with such a well-grounded and compassionate nurse. She was the best!