September 2020
Katie
Crittenden
,
RN
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth
,
VA
United States
Katie ensures all patients receive the highest quality of care.
I have had the honor and privilege of working side-by-side with Katie Crittenden in the ICU for approximately 10 years or more. She has many roles in this unit including Charge and Resource Nurse, Preceptor to HM's and Nurses, PICC Team, UPC team, and not to forget, direct patient care. I admire her for her knowledge and courage and how she always shares this knowledge with others. She loves to teach, and I can see she takes a lot of pride in sharing with others.
I have been a Nurse for over 32 years with experience in the ER and the ICU and willingly admit when I may need assistance. Without any hesitation, she will always step right in and teach. In this ever changing world of Medicine it is really nice to know how I can count on her without judgement, to step up and help out, even the "older" nurses. No judgement, just a smile. She always steps right in to help out or maybe just to give an extra tidbit of useful information. RN Crittenden is the permanent figure that is always here to represent the ICU staff.
As I leave here, I am rest assured that there will always be a voice for our unit. A fair and caring voice. She ensures all patients receive the highest quality of care. One example that comes to mind is we have had a somewhat long term patient. When Katie returned from the Comfort deployment from NYC she was the Resource Nurse. After making rounds that morning, she not only suggested but assisted in moving this patient and all her belongings to the room next door with a beautiful view of the Harbor! Katie said the patient needed a change of scenery. I said to myself "Wow! This Nurse just returned from a deployment that I know was a pretty rough and traumatic one, and yet she still has all that compassion, thoughtfulness, and love left in her to continue to put the patient's first.” It was obvious she made the patient's day.
Katie heads up the PICC team and at the drop of a hat will insert when there is a request—without any hesitation. She is on the UPC council and is always trying to better the unit by suggestions. She has come up with “pebble in my shoe” and a “WOW” box at the Nurses station. You can anonymously complain or compliment. She does read all these and will bring it to the UPC council. She hears the voices of the ICU and acts upon it. She actually cares about the unit. All this shows that she does not only cares about the patients, but the staff, and the entire NMCP as well. She practices holistic nursing and includes the patient, family, and the staff in the planning of the proper care for the patient. I have watched her be a preceptor to many HM’s and Nurses and produced some of the most qualified and competent the Navy has to offer. This in turn, creates some of the best HM's and Nurses that the patient and family can totally trust and depend on to deliver quality patient care. She frequently takes the position of Charge and Resource Nurse. She has a wealth of knowledge that she is always sharing with others making them better team members. She involves all ancillary teams when the need arises She takes the initiative of always helping out Staff when she may observe a little “struggle”. She encourages independence, but always oversees from close by. Her standards are that of a professional, caring, and knowledgeable RN.
I have been a Nurse for over 32 years with experience in the ER and the ICU and willingly admit when I may need assistance. Without any hesitation, she will always step right in and teach. In this ever changing world of Medicine it is really nice to know how I can count on her without judgement, to step up and help out, even the "older" nurses. No judgement, just a smile. She always steps right in to help out or maybe just to give an extra tidbit of useful information. RN Crittenden is the permanent figure that is always here to represent the ICU staff.
As I leave here, I am rest assured that there will always be a voice for our unit. A fair and caring voice. She ensures all patients receive the highest quality of care. One example that comes to mind is we have had a somewhat long term patient. When Katie returned from the Comfort deployment from NYC she was the Resource Nurse. After making rounds that morning, she not only suggested but assisted in moving this patient and all her belongings to the room next door with a beautiful view of the Harbor! Katie said the patient needed a change of scenery. I said to myself "Wow! This Nurse just returned from a deployment that I know was a pretty rough and traumatic one, and yet she still has all that compassion, thoughtfulness, and love left in her to continue to put the patient's first.” It was obvious she made the patient's day.
Katie heads up the PICC team and at the drop of a hat will insert when there is a request—without any hesitation. She is on the UPC council and is always trying to better the unit by suggestions. She has come up with “pebble in my shoe” and a “WOW” box at the Nurses station. You can anonymously complain or compliment. She does read all these and will bring it to the UPC council. She hears the voices of the ICU and acts upon it. She actually cares about the unit. All this shows that she does not only cares about the patients, but the staff, and the entire NMCP as well. She practices holistic nursing and includes the patient, family, and the staff in the planning of the proper care for the patient. I have watched her be a preceptor to many HM’s and Nurses and produced some of the most qualified and competent the Navy has to offer. This in turn, creates some of the best HM's and Nurses that the patient and family can totally trust and depend on to deliver quality patient care. She frequently takes the position of Charge and Resource Nurse. She has a wealth of knowledge that she is always sharing with others making them better team members. She involves all ancillary teams when the need arises She takes the initiative of always helping out Staff when she may observe a little “struggle”. She encourages independence, but always oversees from close by. Her standards are that of a professional, caring, and knowledgeable RN.