December 2023
Karen
MacVittie
,
BSN, RN
12E Pediatrics
Upstate University Hospital Health System
Syracuse
,
NY
United States
Karen went to bat for us and for our daughter in a time when we were really scared and exhausted, and it meant the world to me.
My 6-day old daughter was admitted to the hospital because of some seizure like movements she was having. My husband brought her in while I was at a different hospital getting a D&C for retained placenta, so he was terrified and alone. He also hadn’t slept in 2 days and was on the brink of exhaustion. Hannah was the nurse overnight, and she took care of all of my daughter’s feedings and diaper changes so my husband could get some much-needed sleep. I am so beyond grateful for everything she did for my daughter and husband so that we could all focus on my daughter getting better and not have to worry about my husband collapsing from being so tired. The next morning, when I was discharged, I came over, and we had Karen as a nurse. Immediately, I was impressed with Karen. Smart, dedicated, compassionate, these words don’t even begin to describe her. I felt like Karen went above and beyond to explain things to us, to make sure we were updated, to find the doctors involved in our daughter’s care, and to make sure they updated us. Karen went to bat for us and for our daughter in a time when we were really scared and exhausted, and it meant the world to me. I had been separated from my daughter and worried for her and my husband, but after meeting Karen and Hannah I knew she had been in excellent hands. Karen and Hannah truly exemplified compassion and patient care to levels I’ve never seen before. I would trust them with my daughter’s life, which is saying a lot. They deserve to be recognized for their outstanding care, and I wish there was more I could do for them to show them how much I truly appreciate them.