Kathleen O’Connell is an experienced ED Nurse. My dad who has cancer recently came into the ED at LIJ and went into septic shock. Kate remained calm and essentially ran the code and was telling everyone what to do. She is the reason my dad was able to leave the emergency room that night and be admitted to 8 Tower.

On her day off, Kate came into the hospital to visit my dad. She remembered how dry his lips were from all the radiation he was getting, and she brought him lip balm to help. This really made my dad feel like he had someone looking out for him. My mother who was distraught about what was going on with my dad found peace when Kate was with them and talking care of them like they were her own family.

As a new nurse at Northwell I can only hope that I make the same impact as Kate did on my patients. I have not met Kate yet and thank her, but I hope that this award can make her see how thankful me and my family are until I have the pleasure of meeting her. Acts like Kate’s is the reason people call nurses superheroes. Kate goes above and beyond for her patients and my family, and I could see this in the short time my dad had her as his nurse. We are forever grateful.