My daughter M has severe anxiety and PTSD. Being admitted to the hospital can be scary for any individual. For her, a cascade of issues rises up; being oppositional, pacing, wanting to take showers, etc. Kate was the nurse on duty when we first arrived on the 5th floor. M wanted to leave. In the ER, the social worker petitioned her (she is 18) so she would have to stay. Her potassium and electrolyte levels were dangerously low. Over the course of M’s 3-night/4-day stay at Butterworth, Kate helped to manage her in the most amazing way. She was direct and firm but also caring and nurturing. We thought that M would need to be restrained for the first night because she was uncooperative. Kate calmed her down and was successful in providing care without needing to call security. She checked in on M, even when she was not her assigned patient, and was able to control and manage M’s behavior at a time when the situation could have very easily escalated.

This was not our first time at HDVCH/Butterworth for a similar situation. We have had mixed results over the past 3 years. Generally, all have been good. But what made this situation different was that M understood that now she was an adult and the rules were different because of her age. Despite the petition, she could have made the situation hard on everyone; on the nursing staff by refusing to cooperate, on her Mom because she was angry that she was there and even of herself because she was at a point where she was no longer operating rationally. Kate quickly assessed the situation and managed it with skill and grace. Her EQ on being able to read her patient was nothing short of phenomenal. As a result, M stayed calm, was generally cooperative, and thoroughly grateful for feeling like Kate was there to support her and be her cheerleader to get well. We are so thankful that Kate was our nurse. We believe it made all the difference.