Kathy Hatfield is one of the most compassionate nurses I have had the pleasure of working with in my career as a nurse. She adheres and upholds the I-CARE values without falter.

Integrity: Kathy shows this through her moral and ethical behaviors. She is not afraid to voice her questions or concerns when it comes to her patients and veterans, their families, and her co-workers. Kathy consistently takes ownership of her actions, positive and negative alike, and expects the same of those surrounding her. By being accountable and expecting accountability, she continues to be respected and trusted by her co-workers, peers, and patients.

Commitment: Kathy is committed to her duty as a nurse, as a co-worker, and as a patient advocate. She shows up to work timely, works without complaint, and seeks work when she's completed her own tasks. She is committed to meeting the needs of the veterans no matter how frivolous or time-consuming the task may seem to others, she realizes the importance it holds to the veterans and their families.

Advocacy: Kathy is the epitome of what an advocate looks like. She is not intimidated by those superior or inferior to her when it comes to the best interest of the veterans, patients, and their families. She does not let obstacles or the fear of a difficult path impact her decision to move forward with her desire for what she knows is right. Many times she has sought guidance and not taken no for an answer when knowing actions or decisions were not made with the patient at the center of the decision.

Respect: Kathy holds herself in high regard and gives others the same respect when it is earned and appropriate. She does not tolerate people being treated with disrespect and is not afraid to let someone know when their behavior is unprofessional and uncalled for. She believes strongly in equality, kindness, and justification.

Excellence: As I mentioned above, Kathy will be the first person to raise her hand and take ownership in mistakes or mishaps, no matter how small or big the consequence, to her, it all has the same impact. She educates herself when necessary, knows her limitations, seeks assistance or guidance when unsure, and always has those surrounding her at the heart of all of her decisions, especially the veterans.

During my time on the acute care floor, while performing hands-on patient care or making follow-up calls with recently discharged patients, any patient Kathy had come into contact with knew her by name and praised her highly.

I could only hope to become as genuinely compassionate and deeply invested of a nurse as Kathy Hatfield. She, and those like her, are the quintessence of compassionate care and I would hope to have a nurse with similar attributes taking care of me, my family, and my friends if we were in a situation that required it. She inspires me daily, professionally and personally. I am fortunate to have her as a co-worker and to have formed a friendship from that.