Kay Monteith

Christie Festa is in the photo with Kay Monteith.

When I think about the type of leader and care provider I aspire to become, I look to Kay Monteith as a template and as a pillar of inspiration. Through working with Kay, I have personally seen how her sensitivity, humor, empathy, and experience can bring smiles to patient’s faces and add needed levity to her coworkers. Her humor is infectious. I can often locate her in the hall from patient’s laughter billowing out of their rooms. Day in and day out, Kay goes the extra mile for her patients and her coworkers. Rough days turn into smooth ones with Kay. Many nurses will omit moments to educate the patient; not Kay. It seems that regardless of the patient’s background, Kay always manages to find a common ground with them.

Whether dealing with a patient’s family member after the patient has passed on or explaining a treatment or procedure to a patient, Kay maintains a level of professionalism coupled with empathy and understanding. When we have students on the hall, I often suggest to them to follow Kay, if they can keep up with her. Certainly my writing abilities do not come close at communicating what an asset Kay is and what effect she has on the people she encounters. Hopefully, this Award will help draw attention to an extraordinary nurse that usually shuns accolades.