Meet Kristy: respiratory therapist and SMILE recipient
Kristy, a respiratory therapist at SickKids, has some advice when it comes to putting a smile on people’s faces. “I have found over the past ten years of working at the bedside that the best way to get a smile is to give one first.”She recently experienced this first hand when she received a smile of a different kind through the SMILE program, which provides SickKids families and staff with the opportunity to thank and acknowledge staff members at SickKids. “I felt truly honoured that someone would recognize me with a SMILE. It was such a nice surprise and definitely unexpected.”
Kristy has been a member of the SickKids family since 2003, when she was brought into the hospital as a SARS screener while studying to be a respiratory therapist. From there, she got a summer job as a student respiratory technician helping to service the equipment in the Respiratory Therapy department, and upon graduation in 2005, she was hired as a respiratory therapist.
“I knew there was no other hospital I wanted to work at,” said Kristy. “The staff at SickKids are an amazing group of specialties coming together to provide world class care to patients. After graduation, I wanted to be a part of that team.”
Kristy loves her role at SickKids. Not only does she enjoy working with the kids, who she describes as “resilient and very forgiving, no matter how much you ask of them,” but she also feels fortunate enough to work with “the best group of respiratory therapists (RTs) anyone could ask for.”
“The group of RTs I work with are the most supportive group of cheerleaders. A high five or ‘good job’ from a colleague goes a long way when it’s been a tough day. Knowing you have the support of other RTs makes your day-to-day that much easier.”
Kristy and her colleagues come together to get through the tough times, but also to celebrate the many milestones that happen during the treatment of a patient. “When the team is able to work together over weeks or months to take care of a sick child and are finally able to get them home … well, that is just the best possible outcome.”
Have you been impacted by a staff member at SickKids and wish to honour them for the comfort, positivity or brightness they provided in your day? Consider saying thank you with a SMILE. Not only will it brighten the day of a staff member, it will also support the Staff Continuing Professional Development Fund so that staff members like Kristy can continue to advance their skills and increase their knowledge and expertise so that they can continue to provide the best care for sick children.
“I knew there was no other hospital I wanted to work at,” said Kristy. “The staff at SickKids are an amazing group of specialties coming together to provide world class care to patients. After graduation, I wanted to be a part of that team.”
"I work with the best group of respiratory therapists anyone could ask for."
“The group of RTs I work with are the most supportive group of cheerleaders. A high five or ‘good job’ from a colleague goes a long way when it’s been a tough day. Knowing you have the support of other RTs makes your day-to-day that much easier.”
Kristy and her colleagues come together to get through the tough times, but also to celebrate the many milestones that happen during the treatment of a patient. “When the team is able to work together over weeks or months to take care of a sick child and are finally able to get them home … well, that is just the best possible outcome.”
Have you been impacted by a staff member at SickKids and wish to honour them for the comfort, positivity or brightness they provided in your day? Consider saying thank you with a SMILE. Not only will it brighten the day of a staff member, it will also support the Staff Continuing Professional Development Fund so that staff members like Kristy can continue to advance their skills and increase their knowledge and expertise so that they can continue to provide the best care for sick children.
