We are so pleased to have this opportunity to recognize the outstanding work Katie Conway does as a charge nurse in the Heart & Kidney Unit (HKU). We have had the privilege of getting to know Katie over the past 3 years since our 3 year-old daughter was first transferred to HKU after having spent months in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) with cardiomyopathy. Katie has provided our family with exceptional care, attention, and guidance through very difficult times (e.g., when our daughter was on a Berlin Heart, had a heart transplant, and when she was in the hospital for various other reasons). Katie consistently goes above and beyond, and we are so thankful to her for all she has done for us.
We have so many examples to share of how Katie has the clinical skill and how she provides the compassionate care that makes her an exemplary nurse and a worthy recipient of the DAISY Award. It is hard to select only a couple examples to highlight. A recent example occurred in November when our daughter was transferred to the CICU after going into cardiac arrest while under anesthesia during a cardiac catheterization. Katie found out and rushed to the CICU with tears in her eyes to see how our daughter was doing. Also, last winter, our daughter had a seizure from one of her anti-rejection medicines reaching a toxic level in her blood stream and was brought by ambulance to the ER. I don't know how Katie found out about these occurrences, but there she was. She appears out of nowhere to help, even when our daughter isn't in her direct care. I can't begin to express how much that means to us. And when we see Katie after our daughter has been admitted to HKU, a wave of relief flows over us all. We are so happy to see her, and we know our daughter will have the best care possible.
Katie genuinely cares deeply about her patients, and she goes the extra mile to assist them and their families. She has been a dear friend, a trusted confidant, and a valuable resource to our whole family. She takes extensive time to answer all of our questions, address our concerns, and provide us with information about resources available both inside and outside the hospital.
Beyond the compassion and care she always shows, Katie has the expertise and experience to make sound decisions, manage complex care programs, address a variety of needs staff and patients have, and advocate on behalf of patients and their families. She is very knowledgeable about cardiac cases, including heart transplant cases, and she takes the time to learn more about new procedures and initiatives. She is an expert at removing IVs while keeping our daughter laughing (quite a feat!), she knows about our daughter's medications and their potential side effects, and she understands how to keep our daughter and other patients safe while enabling them to get outside for fresh air or walk in the hallways when possible. We trust her completely.
What a joy and blessing it is to know Katie and to be in her presence. She lights up the room when she walks in, she makes both of our daughters laugh and have fun during very challenging times, and she is a constant source of comfort and support to us.