When I started orientation for my job as an RN Care Manager at the Evanston CBOC, I had the opportunity to meet Renee Kramer who heads the Immunization Clinic. From the first moments I spent with her, she demonstrated a fierce passion for serving the Veteran population with every resource available to her.
Watching Renee interact with the Veterans and their children was inspiring. For the vets, her attitude was full of respect and appreciation. For their children, she was full of compassion and sensitivity. This was especially apparent when one young girl had a huge anxiety attack. I watched as Renee masterfully, yet gently, took charge of the situation to ensure the girl would receive the shots she needed.
Renee is a team player. When I left the clinic after our morning together she said, "I am always here as a resource for you". I have taken her up on that offer about 5 times. She is always eager to help me access the information I need to make the clinical decisions around what vaccines would be best for that patient, or what exact labs need to be ordered to assess an existing immunity, which would make not vaccinating the best decision.
Why I am writing this nomination now is related to a recent experience with a Vietnam Vet who is returning to Vietnam and desired assistance with determining appropriate vaccine coverage. Though Renee had never met this Vet, with great enthusiasm she partnered with me to find out existing immunities as a platform for making a plan for determining the vaccines he actually needed. I told him about Renee's part in all of this. He was incredibly grateful for her expertise and willingness to get involved. Because of nurses like Renee, the Vietnam Vet we are currently in the process of serving said to me with tears in his eyes "I am so glad to be a Vet and receive this kind of incredible care".
Her zeal for caring for these Vets inspires everyone around her to give their absolute best effort to do the same. She is making a marked difference, one Vet at a time, each and every day.