Kathy Marcum
September 2014
Kathy
Marcum
,
RN
Phase II
Baptist Health Louisville
Louisville
,
KY
United States
When I think of an extraordinary nurse, Kathy Marcum, immediately comes to mind. Kathy has been a nurse for 54 years and has been at Baptist for most of them.Through her many years she has mentored numerous nurses and cared for countless patients.Kathy has seen many changes over the years and she has adapted to all of them and remains on top of her game.
There are numerous other ways that Kathy is an extraordinary nurse, one of them being the empathy she shows towards patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer.As an ovarian cancer survivor, she has been a listening ear to many patients who are just being diagnosed with cancer and she is the first one to be supportive.She has even given her phone number to families and patients and frequently receives calls in addition to being at the bedside in their times of need.She has proven to be a great source of comfort to so many.
Additionally, there is one particular situation that also exemplifies her extraordinary nursing care.
Nurse Kathy recently admitted a patient from the Cath Lab.Kathy quickly knew that something was wrong and she persistently kept the doctor informed.The patient was apprehensive herselfbut Kathy consistently reassured her while taking care of all of her physical needs. It turned out that the patient was suffering from cardiac tamponade and was rushed back to the cath lab where 220 cc of fluid was removed from the pericardium.Due to Kathy's great care and persistence, this patient's physiologic needs were met.
Kathy was not only a great comfort to the patient but to the husband as well.While caring for the patient, she also continually cared for the family, especially the husband who had recently been discharged following a vascular surgery.Kathy made sure the husband was in a comfortable chair with his legs elevated. She truly provided patient and family centered care in this situation. The family was very appreciative of her care.
One week after the patient experienced cardiac tamponade, she happened to be our patient again.The patient and family had so many positive comments about Kathy.Her husband said, 'I truly feel that Kathy saved my wife's life.She did so much for her and took such good care of me too. As my wife's condition worsened, I just knew that we could not have been in more capable hands. She is truly amazing.'
The example of taking care of a patient and her family during an emergency and providing re-assurance to cancer patients is what makes Kathy exceptional.I feel that Kathy proves day in and day out that she is an extraordinary nurse who exemplifies DAISY Award qualities.Her compassion for so many is just who she is.
There are numerous other ways that Kathy is an extraordinary nurse, one of them being the empathy she shows towards patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer.As an ovarian cancer survivor, she has been a listening ear to many patients who are just being diagnosed with cancer and she is the first one to be supportive.She has even given her phone number to families and patients and frequently receives calls in addition to being at the bedside in their times of need.She has proven to be a great source of comfort to so many.
Additionally, there is one particular situation that also exemplifies her extraordinary nursing care.
Nurse Kathy recently admitted a patient from the Cath Lab.Kathy quickly knew that something was wrong and she persistently kept the doctor informed.The patient was apprehensive herselfbut Kathy consistently reassured her while taking care of all of her physical needs. It turned out that the patient was suffering from cardiac tamponade and was rushed back to the cath lab where 220 cc of fluid was removed from the pericardium.Due to Kathy's great care and persistence, this patient's physiologic needs were met.
Kathy was not only a great comfort to the patient but to the husband as well.While caring for the patient, she also continually cared for the family, especially the husband who had recently been discharged following a vascular surgery.Kathy made sure the husband was in a comfortable chair with his legs elevated. She truly provided patient and family centered care in this situation. The family was very appreciative of her care.
One week after the patient experienced cardiac tamponade, she happened to be our patient again.The patient and family had so many positive comments about Kathy.Her husband said, 'I truly feel that Kathy saved my wife's life.She did so much for her and took such good care of me too. As my wife's condition worsened, I just knew that we could not have been in more capable hands. She is truly amazing.'
The example of taking care of a patient and her family during an emergency and providing re-assurance to cancer patients is what makes Kathy exceptional.I feel that Kathy proves day in and day out that she is an extraordinary nurse who exemplifies DAISY Award qualities.Her compassion for so many is just who she is.