1. Karan was the example of what a nurse should be: kind, caring, and fair. She spent so much of her time helping us all take better care of our patients. Always with that soft smile and for me her signature giggle, even when she was explaining to me something that I had done incorrectly. Karan was always giving, she gave of herself and always participated in every philanthropic endeavor in the OR. Karan had a great love of the OR Nurse Internship and that resulted in many wonderful OR Nurses. We still are all working together today. I will greatly miss her presence, friendship, knowledge, and kind heart.
2. I met Karan 20 years ago when I started working in the Operating Room. Being a critical care nurse looking for a different specialty, Karan took me under her wing. She suggested that we both come in on the night shift so that she could personally teach me as much as she could in the shortest time possible. She has spent her career helping everyone she touched with kindness, compassion, and a gift helping nurses to become the best care givers possible! She taught with knowledge, enthusiasm, and a passion for the profession that was the love of her life. Thousands of patients received the best care due to her devotion to teach us all the right way, the safe way, the best way! Karan will be missed by all and deserves a DAISY for her love of Nursing and the patients that she helped us all care for.
3. Having recently graduated from the OR Fellowship, I have had the honor to know Karan Kirkpatrick as a mentor nurse to me. Karan had a wealth of knowledge and always has time and patience for questions. She has a way of teaching that is empowering, never making anyone feel bad about mistakes, but efficiently correcting them. She always steps out of her way to see or approach a situation how others might. Her empathetic way, friendly and open demeanor, and kind and warm personality have made her the best nurse mentor. I feel completely honored to have been her student, to have become the OR Nurse I am today because of her commitment to her profession and to this operating room. I know I don't speak for myself when I say that I could never have been half the OR Nurse I am without Karan's wisdom, both professionally and personally. My utmost gratitude is expressed the Karan Kirkpatrick.