she consistently leads staff in a manner that inspires confidence and calmness

Kathy has recently returned to the Bronson Battle Creek Endoscopy Unit, and in a very short time has become one of the clinical leaders. Within a few months, she has become one of the primary charge nurses, taking an active role in managing staff and patient throughput during our rapid and significant increase in volume. In her role as charge nurse, she is responsible for adding-on cases, often emergently, while at the same time ensuring scheduled cases remain on-time. This frequently involves shifting staffing and assignments, seeking out additional assistance from the PACU, and speaking with physicians, anesthesia, floor charge and staff nurses, and patient families to ensure that safe, efficient care is provided.

Kathy is often our charge nurse on the busiest days, yet she consistently leads staff in a manner that inspires confidence and calmness, yet also with a can-do attitude and a desire to find a way to make it work. Compassion and kindness are a hallmark of her personality. This is a paramount characteristic of her charge nurse performance, but also when she is preforming in the role of staff nurse. Her demeanor and affect are calming to all the staff, her communication is “kind police” and yet also concise, and she manages to give instruction in a manner that makes the person being instructed and even at times corrected feel as if they should be thanking her.

Kathy has an endless nursing knowledge base and is able to be consulted on a variety of issues. She is very comfortable speaking truth to power and can be counted on to say what needs saying while always ensuring that her style of communication exudes professionalism and courtesy. She is the epitome of what a charge nurse and clinical leader should be.