Katie McDaniel
October 2020
Katie
McDaniel
,
RN, BSN, CCRN
CVU
Decatur Memorial Hospital

 

 

 

Katie's care for him was intentional with every intervention to save his life. All while caring for him, she also cared for his family with grace and compassion.
Who would have thought we would be in a world pandemic and how much our work would change, yet what we do is care for others in their most vulnerable fearful moments in life. Words cannot express the emotions and the awe of our staff this day. I was especially touched as I watched one nurse, Katie McDaniel, as she poured hours into the care of this patient suffering from COVID-19. What I witnessed was bravery, strength, love, compassion, and expert skill all in the efforts to attempt to save this man. She worked endlessly in this small room, wrapped in PPE, fighting with all she and the team had to offer while not leaving his side- for hours! She did this with an audience of support outside of this isolation room. I cannot imagine what this must have been like for her in this bubble as she cared for him with many of us around her watching in anticipation of a change in his condition. Her care for him was intentional with every intervention to save his life. All while caring for him, she also cared for his family with grace and compassion. Knowing they could not be with him, she FaceTimed with them many lengthy times, so they could see their loved one in his last hours. She prayed with them, doing so with great strength, patience, and care during one of the most difficult of times, she made a difference in their lives. She is a special nurse who portrays skillful expertise with compassion for those in her care. I and others were brought to tears this day of the extraordinary care that was witnessed by Katie and the entire team.