Kate Chorzempa
September 2020
Kate
Chorzempa
,
RN
ICU
Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital
Charlottesville
,
VA
Kate always emulated warmth, compassion, and an encouraging attitude with Mother and a sincere family-centered approach to care.
It is hard to briefly summarize the extraordinary care Kate provided to our mother, who was recently a patient. Mother had been visiting my sister, rehabbing from an earlier medical issue. She was rushed to Martha Jefferson due to a sudden, dramatic drop in heart rate. While my sister knew the hospital and staff well, it was a new and frightening experience for Mother and the rest of the family, as we watched the medical teamwork to stabilize her. From the time she arrived, we were all on a roller coaster of emotions.
Fortunately, the situation was made much easier with Kate being one of Mother's primary ICU nurses. Because of her extraordinary approach to nursing, Mother and the family always felt we were in good hands. Kate always emulated warmth, compassion, and an encouraging attitude with Mother and a sincere family-centered approach to care. While working, due to COVID-19, under an increased workload, she continuously displayed an attitude of Mother's care being her #1 concern. She always took the time to explain things to Mother and the family to ensure we understood the steps being taken and their implications; oftentimes more than once, even on her day off going out of her way to call the family to check on Mother to show her concern as we rode the roller coaster of emotions.
Kate not only went out of her way to meet the age-specific needs of her patient, but also exhibited a highly skilled and knowledgeable approach to delivering care, several times consulting with the medical team to decide the best approach to provide comfort, address problems that arose, or act as a family advocate in seeking answers. As a team player, she also didn't just concern herself with care provided during her shift but took the steps needed to ensure continuity of care between shifts.
Mother and the family looked forward each day to seeing Kate. Her positive and caring attitude, gentle approach, and skill were evident each day during this difficult period. She stood out as a nurse willing and able to go beyond the normal routine and we are grateful to have been lucky enough to have had her taking care of our mother because she is simply an Extraordinary Nurse.
Fortunately, the situation was made much easier with Kate being one of Mother's primary ICU nurses. Because of her extraordinary approach to nursing, Mother and the family always felt we were in good hands. Kate always emulated warmth, compassion, and an encouraging attitude with Mother and a sincere family-centered approach to care. While working, due to COVID-19, under an increased workload, she continuously displayed an attitude of Mother's care being her #1 concern. She always took the time to explain things to Mother and the family to ensure we understood the steps being taken and their implications; oftentimes more than once, even on her day off going out of her way to call the family to check on Mother to show her concern as we rode the roller coaster of emotions.
Kate not only went out of her way to meet the age-specific needs of her patient, but also exhibited a highly skilled and knowledgeable approach to delivering care, several times consulting with the medical team to decide the best approach to provide comfort, address problems that arose, or act as a family advocate in seeking answers. As a team player, she also didn't just concern herself with care provided during her shift but took the steps needed to ensure continuity of care between shifts.
Mother and the family looked forward each day to seeing Kate. Her positive and caring attitude, gentle approach, and skill were evident each day during this difficult period. She stood out as a nurse willing and able to go beyond the normal routine and we are grateful to have been lucky enough to have had her taking care of our mother because she is simply an Extraordinary Nurse.