Karen McCarson
February 2022
Karen
McCarson
,
MSN, RN, NP
Palliative Care
Prisma Health - Hillcrest Hospital
Simpsonville
,
SC
United States
Karen is always honest and open with families and patients when they can be involved.
I don’t even know where to start with this amazing woman. Karen is our Palliative Care, NP who has been a staple at our facility over the past couple of years. Karen works tirelessly with patients, family, and staff to offer the best supportive care possible. She has stayed late, come back to work after being home just to make sure that all areas have been addressed. An example of this care is a patient who was wanting to get his HCPOA situated. Karen assisted the patient and family with HCPOA. Several hours later another family notified staff that they had the HCPOA. Karen returned to work that evening and talked with the patient again. He stated he had forgotten about the original HCPOA, and he did want that person to be his HCPOA. Karen stayed and corrected this for the patient to make sure his wishes were followed.
Karen has many difficult conversations with families, regarding end-of-life decisions. She’s always honest and open with families and patients when they can be involved. Karen uses a lot of her time at the hospital setting up family meetings to assist in communication between the families and physicians. Unfortunately, these conversations have become more of a staple over the past couple of years due to our COVID surges and especially during this last surge. Karen is present time and time again.
One incident that really stands out is a patient we had in ICU who was not doing well. Karen had set up meeting after meeting with the family member. The family member would miss appointments, stating Karen would be surprised about how she looked, or couldn’t get a ride. Anyone else would have just stopped trying but Karen didn’t back down; she kept the line of communication open and finally the family member came to a meeting. Karen was able to provide information for this family and provided support. I believe this family member kept missing her appointments because she didn’t want to make the wrong decision. I believe Karen helped break that barrier with her kindness, openness, and caring words. Karen is a great example of a DAISY Nurse.
Karen has many difficult conversations with families, regarding end-of-life decisions. She’s always honest and open with families and patients when they can be involved. Karen uses a lot of her time at the hospital setting up family meetings to assist in communication between the families and physicians. Unfortunately, these conversations have become more of a staple over the past couple of years due to our COVID surges and especially during this last surge. Karen is present time and time again.
One incident that really stands out is a patient we had in ICU who was not doing well. Karen had set up meeting after meeting with the family member. The family member would miss appointments, stating Karen would be surprised about how she looked, or couldn’t get a ride. Anyone else would have just stopped trying but Karen didn’t back down; she kept the line of communication open and finally the family member came to a meeting. Karen was able to provide information for this family and provided support. I believe this family member kept missing her appointments because she didn’t want to make the wrong decision. I believe Karen helped break that barrier with her kindness, openness, and caring words. Karen is a great example of a DAISY Nurse.