Karen is an inspirational role model who embodies what it is to be a Parkland nurse. Throughout her twenty-one years of nursing, she has gained an abundance of clinical experience and constantly demonstrates effective, compassionate care to her patients. Karen is not only caring for patients but also their families who are often beginning their cycle of grief. Karen takes the time to explain every detail involved in the complex processes of ICU care. Karen continuously demonstrates professionalism and empathy. Karen never hesitates to jump into direct patient care when her peers are struggling.
Karen encompasses Parkland's Mission as well as the Parkland CIRCLES.
Compassion: Karen's compassion for her patients and family members are evident. She is a great listener. She is kind, empathetic, and selfless. She goes out of her way to comfort patient's families in times of extreme emotional distress. Karen goes above and beyond in her role as a staff nurse. She believes every patient should be treated with the highest of standards, whether the patient is expected to live beyond hospital admission or is expected to expire before discharge. Karen will exhaust every avenue to find a family for an unidentified patient. Recently Karen took to social media to find a family for an unidentified non-English-speaking intubated trauma patient. She was able to locate the patient's family overseas so that they could come to Dallas and be with their loved one before he passed. Karen has a soft spot for the under-served population of Dallas County, which is what has kept her here for over 18 years.
Integrity: Karen displays professionalism in all of her many roles. As a charge nurse, she allows time to discuss whatever topic needs to be discussed, especially policies, so that nurses learn and grow. Karen provides excellent patient care, consults peers who face ethical dilemmas. Karen is the type of nurse that you can count on to always do the right thing, no matter the physical or emotional burden.
Respect: Karen treats everyone with the utmost respect and has worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between Nursing Leadership and staff nurses. Her dedication to her patients and the department can be felt in the way she treats everyone, with equal attention and respect. As mentioned above, Karen's listening skills are immaculate. When talking with her you get a feeling that she truly cares for you and cares about the words you shared.
Collaboration: Karen works with her fellow staff nurses, providers, and pastoral care to support the physical and emotional needs of patients, family, and staff. She is a strong patient advocate and does not hesitate to escalate issues to her nursing chain of command as well as physician chain of command. Karen makes her presence known during multidisciplinary rounds by being a strong patient advocate.
Leadership: Karen is a natural leader who leads by example and personifies what it means to be a truly excellent critical care nurse. Karen has been known to precept new members of upper leadership to the charge RN role. It is easy to follow a nurse like Karen because you know she is always doing what she believes is right and in her peer and patient's best interest.
Excellence: Karen's clinical expertise is obvious to anyone who has worked beside or followed her on shift. She has great attention to detail and maintains a calm demeanor which puts patients and families, as well as newer nurses at ease. She is an amazing teacher with her vast nursing knowledge and never hesitates or complains when she is asked to go out of her way to teach her peers.
Stewardship: Karen is cognizant of small costs adding up in a large facility. She displays stewardship by regularly checking for and using supplies already present in patient rooms before gathering supplies from equipment rooms. As a charge nurse, she ensures adequate staffing ratios without overstaffing the unit. Karen never hesitates to help with staffing on her designated "office" shifts. She is a true team player and Parkland is a better place to work because of her presence.