February 2024 Honoree
Kaitlyn Dube, RN
Kate Dube was our ICU Nurse caring for my family member during a challenging day with multiple high-demand patients, additionally precepting a new Nurse at our hospital. This was one of the hardest days of our lives, with elevated emotions and so many questions; the biggest being, why did this happen? Kate demonstrated what a true extraordinary nurse is. Her direct nursing care and actions clearly show her skilled healthcare competence. This is a day in the life of a Nurse, but it was much more than that for our family that day.
Kate was empathically attentive, keeping us informed of everything being done and using terms easily understood by family members not in health care. She not only addressed my hospitalized family member's needs, but concurrently supported my family's emotional needs. She had the insight to expedite complete care, but also to communicate with the doctor to address and confirm all care essentials. Respectfully sharing with us what they were doing while allowing us space to process what was happening.
When a patient is hospitalized, especially in the ICU, it's very intimidating for people not in health care to understand what is being done. Seeing all the tubing and monitors and observing staff members addressing care needs quickly, all efforts were explained with the calmest of mannerisms. She gave us the confidence we needed to know our family member was not only in the best hands available, but an extension of our own caring with the expertise of an exceptional ICU Nurse. Even when he was getting ready to be life flighted out, she anticipated how she could help with the continuity of care what could be maintained during transport by making sure what she was doing while he was still in the hospital could be started and managed while on route to a higher level of care.
As a Nurse, it's hard to be on the "other side" of care being provided to family. Watching someone else take care of your loved one, you ask the question, "Would you want that Nurse caring for your family member, and are they doing everything possible to provide total care to them?" Kate answered those questions, many never spoken; others answered before we even thought of them. Complete health care being provided is one of the biggest attributes anyone could ever ask for.
Working at MaineHealth Franklin Hospital, I feel very fortunate and proud to know our patients' physical and emotional needs are being met with superior care. But that day, as a family member of a patient who has so many high-level care demands, I am thankful Kate was our Nurse. She demonstrated and validated what healthcare is all about.
My favorite notion is from Maya Angelou as follows: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This defines Kate. When our family thinks of Kate, so many feelings come to light, including compassion, experience, professionalism, and kindness, just to name a few. She is an extraordinary Nurse.
Kate was empathically attentive, keeping us informed of everything being done and using terms easily understood by family members not in health care. She not only addressed my hospitalized family member's needs, but concurrently supported my family's emotional needs. She had the insight to expedite complete care, but also to communicate with the doctor to address and confirm all care essentials. Respectfully sharing with us what they were doing while allowing us space to process what was happening.
When a patient is hospitalized, especially in the ICU, it's very intimidating for people not in health care to understand what is being done. Seeing all the tubing and monitors and observing staff members addressing care needs quickly, all efforts were explained with the calmest of mannerisms. She gave us the confidence we needed to know our family member was not only in the best hands available, but an extension of our own caring with the expertise of an exceptional ICU Nurse. Even when he was getting ready to be life flighted out, she anticipated how she could help with the continuity of care what could be maintained during transport by making sure what she was doing while he was still in the hospital could be started and managed while on route to a higher level of care.
As a Nurse, it's hard to be on the "other side" of care being provided to family. Watching someone else take care of your loved one, you ask the question, "Would you want that Nurse caring for your family member, and are they doing everything possible to provide total care to them?" Kate answered those questions, many never spoken; others answered before we even thought of them. Complete health care being provided is one of the biggest attributes anyone could ever ask for.
Working at MaineHealth Franklin Hospital, I feel very fortunate and proud to know our patients' physical and emotional needs are being met with superior care. But that day, as a family member of a patient who has so many high-level care demands, I am thankful Kate was our Nurse. She demonstrated and validated what healthcare is all about.
My favorite notion is from Maya Angelou as follows: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This defines Kate. When our family thinks of Kate, so many feelings come to light, including compassion, experience, professionalism, and kindness, just to name a few. She is an extraordinary Nurse.
Thank you, Kaitlyn, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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