Katherine Rodgers
February 2023
Katherine
Rodgers
,
ADN, RN
Neuroscience ICU
Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical Center
Richmond
,
VA
United States
Her compassionate and caring attitude allowed her to push past the challenges and go above and beyond.
The Neuroscience ICU has been trialing a “Primary Nursing” model with one of our patients who have been with us for over 6 months now, Mr. R. This patient’s stay has consisted of multiple complications: including multiple brain drains (EVDs), multiple surgeries, COVID, and countless level one head CTs. Kat Rodgers has been taking care of him since the beginning and her journey with him is everything the DAISY Award represents.
Kat Rodgers started on the NSICU as a new grad but carries herself in a way that would leave you in awe of her years as a nurse. Kat is a natural patient advocate, pays attention to detail, is compassionate, kind, and caring, and has been a blessing to Mr. R and his family. She honestly has been a blessing to the entire NSICU team and we are so grateful to have her.
Around the 4-month mark of his ICU stay, Kat noticed that Mr. R was not himself. He appeared depressed, withdrawn, and flat. I remember it was Kat’s first of three shifts when she came to me to tell me that she was thinking about asking the team for permission to take him outside for the first time. This may seem like a small task but Mr. R had not felt sunshine or the wind in four months. All he knew was our hallways and his room.
I was surprised when Kat first brought this up to me because it was not going to be easy. Mr. R was unsteady on his feet, had a brain drain, drips, traveled with an AED, and cardiac monitor, as well as lifesaving medication, in case of an emergency. I knew it was going to be complicated to take him off the unit. Kat recognized this as well but was not afraid of the challenge. Her compassionate and caring attitude allowed her to push past the challenges and go above and beyond. Kat got approval from the primary team and spent that night after her shift figuring out the best route and place to take him the next morning. She clocked out of work, walked around the hospital, mapped it out and found a great fountain for him to sit near that was wheelchair accessible. Kat even spent the next morning calling pediatrics to see if he could go to their garden, but unfortunately, the gardens were closed. Kat created a new tradition to take him outside to sit on that bench. The whole unit could tell what a difference this small gesture made to Mr. R and even his family! They were able to sit outside, and escape the ICU beeping monitors, and the constant bustle.
As mentioned previously, this happened during a stretch where Kat worked three days in a row. During these three shifts, Kat set up a special dinner date for Mr. R and his wife. She reached out to our assistant nurse manager (it was a weekend) to see if she could use her office for this setup. After our assistant nurse manager’s approval, Kat told Mr. R that he and his wife could sit down in the office close the doors and just be alone for dinner that night. Mr. R was so happy. He met Mrs. R in the hallway and when she asked “What are you doing out here?” he gestured to the hallway and said, “Follow me”. She followed him down the hall where Mr. R held the door open for his wife. Kat sat outside the office while they ate. I cannot stress enough how Mr. R had only ever eaten in his bed or in his hospital recliner for the 4 months before this incident. The joy that Kat brought to this family and patient is felt by every team member that works on NSICU. We have been celebrating every small victory over the past 6 months and a lot of big victories because of Kat. We all have grown to know and love Mr. R and his family.
I can personally say that I am so grateful for the small yet huge difference Kat has made. The impact she has left on all of us is something to admire. Aside from all the heartwarming stories I could tell about Kat and this patient, Kat has made a huge impact in life-saving stories. Kat has advocated multiple times for this patient from noticing small neuro changes and escalating the need for a head CT to escalating the need for intubation for worsening respiratory status. Kat’s escalation of care and attention to detail has led to necessary interventions, even surgical ones. Nominating Kat for this award is the beginning of the recognition and thanks that she deserves.
Kat Rodgers started on the NSICU as a new grad but carries herself in a way that would leave you in awe of her years as a nurse. Kat is a natural patient advocate, pays attention to detail, is compassionate, kind, and caring, and has been a blessing to Mr. R and his family. She honestly has been a blessing to the entire NSICU team and we are so grateful to have her.
Around the 4-month mark of his ICU stay, Kat noticed that Mr. R was not himself. He appeared depressed, withdrawn, and flat. I remember it was Kat’s first of three shifts when she came to me to tell me that she was thinking about asking the team for permission to take him outside for the first time. This may seem like a small task but Mr. R had not felt sunshine or the wind in four months. All he knew was our hallways and his room.
I was surprised when Kat first brought this up to me because it was not going to be easy. Mr. R was unsteady on his feet, had a brain drain, drips, traveled with an AED, and cardiac monitor, as well as lifesaving medication, in case of an emergency. I knew it was going to be complicated to take him off the unit. Kat recognized this as well but was not afraid of the challenge. Her compassionate and caring attitude allowed her to push past the challenges and go above and beyond. Kat got approval from the primary team and spent that night after her shift figuring out the best route and place to take him the next morning. She clocked out of work, walked around the hospital, mapped it out and found a great fountain for him to sit near that was wheelchair accessible. Kat even spent the next morning calling pediatrics to see if he could go to their garden, but unfortunately, the gardens were closed. Kat created a new tradition to take him outside to sit on that bench. The whole unit could tell what a difference this small gesture made to Mr. R and even his family! They were able to sit outside, and escape the ICU beeping monitors, and the constant bustle.
As mentioned previously, this happened during a stretch where Kat worked three days in a row. During these three shifts, Kat set up a special dinner date for Mr. R and his wife. She reached out to our assistant nurse manager (it was a weekend) to see if she could use her office for this setup. After our assistant nurse manager’s approval, Kat told Mr. R that he and his wife could sit down in the office close the doors and just be alone for dinner that night. Mr. R was so happy. He met Mrs. R in the hallway and when she asked “What are you doing out here?” he gestured to the hallway and said, “Follow me”. She followed him down the hall where Mr. R held the door open for his wife. Kat sat outside the office while they ate. I cannot stress enough how Mr. R had only ever eaten in his bed or in his hospital recliner for the 4 months before this incident. The joy that Kat brought to this family and patient is felt by every team member that works on NSICU. We have been celebrating every small victory over the past 6 months and a lot of big victories because of Kat. We all have grown to know and love Mr. R and his family.
I can personally say that I am so grateful for the small yet huge difference Kat has made. The impact she has left on all of us is something to admire. Aside from all the heartwarming stories I could tell about Kat and this patient, Kat has made a huge impact in life-saving stories. Kat has advocated multiple times for this patient from noticing small neuro changes and escalating the need for a head CT to escalating the need for intubation for worsening respiratory status. Kat’s escalation of care and attention to detail has led to necessary interventions, even surgical ones. Nominating Kat for this award is the beginning of the recognition and thanks that she deserves.