There are two areas that are non-negotiable with Karen: 1. What's best for the patient. 2. What's best for the team. Karen treats each team member with kindness, and respect and recognizes that the team is made up of many individuals, with unique qualities and talents. She uses her own life experiences to relate to staff and is compassionate, and empathetic, and has created an environment where individual needs are recognized and embraced as long as it benefits the patient and/or the team. Karen demonstrates true leadership skills by covering other units for managers who are on extended leave while still managing her own unit. She successfully assisted the transition to the new Palmetto Tower while being a constant resource for her peers. You will find Karen providing direct patient care, answering call lights, transferring patients from the ER to the floor, or assisting the HCTs to bathe patients. In daily rounds, she gives each patient her undivided attention and sincerely cares about them. When the unit has needs, Karen will advocate for her team to make sure they get what is needed. She is a superior communicator. She arrives to work early and often stays later than she should just so she can make sure she is accessible to the team. She handles the challenges with a calm demeanor. She values each member of the team and frequently lets them know that she appreciates their hard work. We work hard for Karen on 3 Palmetto and know at the end of the day that's what is best for the patient and what's best for the team.