Karen Branch
March 2022
Karen
Branch
,
RN
White 12, Translational & Clinical Research
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston
,
MA
United States
Karen has simply made my visits to the research center biweekly events that I look forward to, especially when she has on occasion made my treatment visits fun and memorable.
I was diagnosed with ALS in August 2017. Since then, I have participated in 2 clinical trials at MGH in the Translational Research Center. In both trials, I have had the opportunity to be cared for by many nurses, and one nurse stands out for her exceptional level of care: Karen Branch.
My first trial in 2018 required 3 overnight days after receiving experimental lumbar punctures. Karen was my primary nurse for all 3 visits. She had the rare combination of gifts: incredible nursing skills (she has proven expert placing an IV in my difficult veins), excellent patient management skills ("B, are you sure you want to be walking up and down the halls after a lumbar puncture?"), and a great sense of humor, which goes a long way towards maintaining a positive outlook when you are a patient with a devastating and fatal diagnosis.
In June 2020, I was offered the opportunity to participate in an Expanded Access Program that requires visits to the research center every 2 weeks for a half-day infusion. During the past 16 months and more than 30 visits, I have had the opportunity to have Karen as my nurse many more times. I have seen many other aspects of her nursing and personal skills during my more recent trial. I have seen her patiently mentor other nurses as they try to set an IV in my arm, have genuinely curious conversations with MGH ALS neurologists about the trials they are conducting, and observed the level of respect that she receives from the other nurses in this unit as well as members of the MGH ALS team for her nursing expertise, curiosity about treatments and protocols, and her patient care skills.
On a more personal note, Karen has simply made my visits to the research center biweekly events that I look forward to, especially when she has on occasion made my treatment visits fun and memorable. A very personalized April Fools' Day hijinks and a small birthday celebration that she organized for me last July stand out. I am grateful for that thoughtfulness and care that has gone into these special gestures along with all the wonderful nursing care she has provided to me.
When people ask me why I continue to participate in clinical trials, I give them 3 reasons: 1) the treatment might have a chance of helping me, 2) my participation may help future ALS patients, and 3) I have the opportunity to work with some pretty amazing people every 2 weeks. Karen Branch is one of those "pretty amazing people,” and for this reason, I believe she is a true DAISY Nurse.
My first trial in 2018 required 3 overnight days after receiving experimental lumbar punctures. Karen was my primary nurse for all 3 visits. She had the rare combination of gifts: incredible nursing skills (she has proven expert placing an IV in my difficult veins), excellent patient management skills ("B, are you sure you want to be walking up and down the halls after a lumbar puncture?"), and a great sense of humor, which goes a long way towards maintaining a positive outlook when you are a patient with a devastating and fatal diagnosis.
In June 2020, I was offered the opportunity to participate in an Expanded Access Program that requires visits to the research center every 2 weeks for a half-day infusion. During the past 16 months and more than 30 visits, I have had the opportunity to have Karen as my nurse many more times. I have seen many other aspects of her nursing and personal skills during my more recent trial. I have seen her patiently mentor other nurses as they try to set an IV in my arm, have genuinely curious conversations with MGH ALS neurologists about the trials they are conducting, and observed the level of respect that she receives from the other nurses in this unit as well as members of the MGH ALS team for her nursing expertise, curiosity about treatments and protocols, and her patient care skills.
On a more personal note, Karen has simply made my visits to the research center biweekly events that I look forward to, especially when she has on occasion made my treatment visits fun and memorable. A very personalized April Fools' Day hijinks and a small birthday celebration that she organized for me last July stand out. I am grateful for that thoughtfulness and care that has gone into these special gestures along with all the wonderful nursing care she has provided to me.
When people ask me why I continue to participate in clinical trials, I give them 3 reasons: 1) the treatment might have a chance of helping me, 2) my participation may help future ALS patients, and 3) I have the opportunity to work with some pretty amazing people every 2 weeks. Karen Branch is one of those "pretty amazing people,” and for this reason, I believe she is a true DAISY Nurse.