Karen Hamlett rounds out 30 years as a nurse with Ascension Seton this summer (July 2024). Karen has spent the majority of her nursing career leading and guiding various nursing teams throughout Dell Children's Medical Center (DCMC) and Children's Hospital of Austin (CHOA) as a Clinical Nurse Manager. Like the big blue dog and the bouncing ball, Karen Hamlett is woven into the framework of what Dell Children's is. She is a steadfast staple of the nursing leadership team, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone whose work hasn't intersected Karen's. Karen's tenure has been described in various ways: from talking about her "family tree" when discussing who hired who and also as "the six degrees of Karen Hamlett."

Karen started her career at CHOA in 1994 as an LVN on the purple unit, became an RN in 1997, and found her way into the Clinical Manager role in the early 2000s. Karen's leadership style is strongly rooted in advocacy and support. No matter the initiative, Karen's focus and approach revolve around her team and the patients and families she serves. She has committed to a consistent leadership presence on days, nights, and weekends, even if that means most of her days start about halfway through most people's typical night of sleep. You can depend on Karen when weekend leadership presence is needed, whether it be for a positive celebration or a more delicate situation. She is lovingly referred to by many associates as their "nurse mom" or "work mom." Her unwavering level of engagement is impressive, and you can expect Karen to be an active contributor to collaborative work. Karen embraces new associates and nurse leaders with open arms, and she welcomes the opportunity to share her knowledge and wisdom through mentorship. It's often joked that Karen's contact list in her phone needs to be downloaded before she retires as she often knows who to call and how to get a hold of them. While Karen is a constant source of information and answers to so many of us, she also chooses to model high-reliability principles daily and is a lifelong learner.

As Karen looks forward to her retirement on the horizon, she deserves to look back at her rich career with Seton/DCMC with SO much pride and a sense of fulfillment. The 2024 DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award belongs to Karen Hamlett as she celebrates 30 years of nursing excellence!

A summary won't do the the following statements justice - below are notes from many of those who have been honored to work alongside Karen:

"KH, the Legend, or as I used to call her "mi otra mamá" raised me to become the nurse that I am today. Karen saw potential in me since being at CHOA that I didn't see in myself and pushed me to do things that made me uncomfortable but that she knew I could do. From orienting ALL of the "difficult" orientees, to stepping into the charge role when "I wasn't ready", to becoming a night supervisor when I wasn't sure I could do it. She geared me in the leadership direction and gave me the opportunities that led me to where I am today.

If it weren't for her, I'm not sure what I would have ended up doing throughout my career here at Dell. Not only is she an amazing manager when dealing with work related issues, but also when dealing with staff's personal issues as well. When my mother had her first stroke and I had my first miscarriage, Karen did not hesitate to allow me the time that I needed to deal with and recover, whether that meant being out of work for 2 weeks or 1 month, or having a set schedule to allow me time to travel to care for my mother. Whatever I needed, she was always willing to support me, and for that, I will FOREVER be grateful!! I can go on and on with Karen stories, but long story short, "Mi Otra Mamá" absolutely deserves this award for her commitment to DCMC & the many people whose lives she's touched during her legendary 30-year career!! I absolutely LOVE that lady!!"

"Karen is deserving of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award because of her excellence in nursing care as a mentor & leader. When you speak of someone who has made a difference or a positive impact on her associates and team, Karen is the one you think of. Karen is the reason I decided to come to work for Ascension, as she hired me 19 years ago. Throughout the time I started as a PCT, and until now, Karen has continuously mentored me. I remember Karen being my rock as a PCT and as a new nurse, as she would check in on the unit promptly at 4 am every day to make sure we were doing okay and did not need anything. We always knew Momma Karen would be checking on us. Karen was a strong manager, fair and supportive. I remember Karen studying for her BSN while she was my manager. I watched Karen return to school for her BSN after years of having her ADN. Her dedication as a leader to continue to learn and grow motivated me to further my education. I knew if Karen could do this while managing an entire unit I could do anything. Karen always told me I could do it, and she would do everything she could to support me along the way. Another way Karen has excelled at being a leader is her positive attitude. Karen has never failed to make me smile and laugh, even through the challenging times. For 19 years, I have looked to Karen for guidance and support through being a PCT and a bedside nurse, and now as a nurse leader, I turn to Karen for guidance because I know she will be fair, supportive, and caring."

"Karen was one of the first RN managers I met when I started at Dell Children's in 2010. I  learned quickly that her nurses loved her. They commented to me that she always had their back as bedside nurses. As I continued to work with her, I learned how important that quality was in an RN manager. They trusted her to advocate for them in whatever circumstance that was needed. She also recognizes when her staff need PACT support even before they realize it, and she's spot on with that assessment. Lastly, I have watched Karen mentor other RN managers beautifully over the last few years. She has the ability to share her experience and knowledge without making herself appear better or greater or smarter than anyone else. She helps newer managers recognize that they, too can have a beautiful career...even if they don't come in at 4:00 a.m. :) Karen has taught me so much over the years that has made me a better leader."

"Oh, Captain, my captain! I was lucky enough to be hired by Karen Hamlett a long long time ago, back in the CHOA era. She is the most supportive manager of her staff. She truly cares about her team and wants the best for them personally and professionally. I still love to see her and give her a big hug when I see her around the hospital. Over the years she has worked some crazy hours! She would call the unit around 0200 to check in and then would be there around 0400. She has truly devoted her time and heart to CHOA and DCMC. I will miss her so much when she actually retires (still hoping she doesn't). I hope she knows how loved she is by so many people. She truly deserves a DAISY Lifetime Award."

"She is definitely my nurse Mom!! She raised me here and when I got my DAISY she was the main person I was looking to take a pic with. I never had to worry about anything with her as my manager. I felt like she always looked out for us, had our backs, and treated us all on 4C like her children. Love her to pieces and I will definitely miss seeing her face here!"

"I have known Karen for 28 years. We have worked together in many capacities. We were bedside nurses together in the purple unit at CHOA when my career began. I worked the evening shift and Karen worked the night shift - back when 8 hour shifts were still around! Karen often stayed late to complete her tasks and charting. She wanted to make sure everything was done before she left. She has always been meticulous! Karen embodies all attributes one would imagine when thinking of the quintessential nurse. She is compassionate towards her patients and coworkers and has excellent communication skills. She is resilient and professional. Years ago, when her home unit, 4 Central, was closed she enthusiastically began leading a new group of nurses caring for a population that was not as familiar to her. She quickly rose to the challenge and made that patient population hers. Karen is 100% dedicated to her profession and advocates for the nurses on her unit as well as all nurses at DCMC. Karen always has an example for the high-reliability principle and safety behavior during daily brief. She is willing to share her nurses' experiences for the learning of the group. Daily brief won't be the same without Karen!"