Karen Norton has worked on the Oncology unit for many years, and through these years, she has made multiple impacts on patients' lives. Upon entering a room, Karen is able to put her patients and their families at ease. She takes time to explain everything and tells them what to expect before, during, and after treatment.
Karen treats everyone she comes in contact with the same way she would treat her own family. She always makes sure she has the appropriate information about her patients to make safe and appropriate decisions. She is an advocate for her patients and makes every effort to clarify anything that is inappropriate or unclear in her patients' treatment plan to secure positive patient outcomes.
Karen can often be found sitting at her patient's bedside actively listening and never appears to be rushed. Her patients often describe her as always having an infectious smile. Recently, a patient described her as being caring, knowledgeable and never seemed rushed when providing care for them. They stated she made them feel like they were the only patient she was caring for.
Through chemotherapy and radiation treatments, this patient lost their appetite and taste buds. They voiced if they could only have a specific food item, they would feel much better. Karen made it happen. On multiple occasions, Karen has gone out of her way to purchase specific food items a patient dreams about and bringing it in for them to enjoy. Patients often state that she is always here. "I don't even have to call her. She always anticipates my needs. I can relax and rest knowing she will be keeping me safe from harm."
Not only is Karen excellent with patients, but she is also an outstanding preceptor. She takes time to explain everything to all the nurses she precepts. She not only teaches the how, but they why behind it. She is patient and kind and allows the new nurse to try to find their own way of caring for their patients. Because of her, there are multiple nurses on our unit who have grown to be amazing caregivers and love their patients the same way she showed them how to.
Karen is also very supportive of her coworkers. She can frequently be found aiding patients not in her direct care when their nurse is busy with another patient. She is a unit resource for multiple Oncology situations. If a nurse states he or she is uncomfortable with a certain skill set, she is the first to volunteer to help. She has been observed numerous times assisting coworkers with administering Chemotherapy, accessing a port or coaching them with the care of a dying patient and their subsequent death. Karen makes them feel comfortable and confident.