Katherine (Katie) Ward, RN

Katie (Katherine) had a 25 year old intubated patient. The patient was alert, but due to her disease process she was unable to be extubated at the time. The patient's family member was unable to stay with the patient the whole day. Every second of free time Katie had was spent in that patient's room. She did not want the patient to be lying in bed, scared and alone. I could hear Katie in that room talking to that patient all day. At one point, I walked by, and Katie was brushing and braiding the patient's long hair so it would not be matted after being bedbound while on the ventilator. Katie's compassion for her patients is seen in her work every day. However, this day was different. This day Katie made that patient feel like the only patient on the unit. She gave that young girl the humanity that all the lines, cords, and machines can take away from a patient. I am very thankful and proud that Katie is my co-worker, and I know that patient was thankful Katie was her nurse.