Katie Zink
May 2023
Katie
Zink
,
BSN, RN
Lange-Fuhs Cancer Center
Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center
Jasper
,
IN
United States

 

 

 

Katie went and found some "Grandma's Cookies" and made the patient a cookie cake. She and some of the other nurses in the department presented her with the "cake" and sang her Happy Birthday.
A patient hadn't been feeling well and had to come in on her birthday to get fluids. The patient had told Katie that nothing sounded good except soft cookies. Katie went and found some "Grandma's Cookies" and made the patient a cookie cake. She and some of the other nurses in the department presented her with the "cake" and sang her Happy Birthday. You could tell it meant a lot to her. Katie always makes each of our patients feel extra special and well taken care of.

Besides the fact that Katie is one of only three oncology nurses who can start an IV on me on the first try, she is a veritable wealth of good cheer and humility. Katie is never bereft of a smile, something anyone can tell even when she wears a mask. She has an infectious, positive attitude that not only affects her co-workers, but provides an extraordinary level of comfort to all her patients. She is also friendly and personable, seeing her patients not as illnesses with a face, but as people deserving her respect. I cannot say enough great things about Katie Zink.

I have worked with this nurse for almost three years, and she never ceases to amaze me. She is a shining light. No matter what the day may bring, I can count on Katie having a smile on her face. She is ALWAYS willing and ready to jump in and help out when needed. I have multiple situations/stories I could mention here, but one that sticks out to me occurred with a dear sweet patient we all came to love. He came into the clinic often, and we would see this man at least once a week, often more, so we really go to know him. We loved to joke around with him, and he was near and dear to all of us. He eventually ended up getting admitted to the hospital, and we all knew how difficult this was for him. However, while most of us just mentioned him in our prayers and thought of him often, Katie took it a step further. She went to the Gift Shop and bought this patient a get-well card and passed it around the clinic for everyone to sign. She then delivered this card and a small gift to the patient during her lunch break. She said his smile lit up the room, and I know that made his hospital stay just a little bit brighter. She is truly an outstanding nurse and the type of nurse I aspire to be!