Meet Kathy: Providing care with a SMILE
This past August, Kathy reached a career milestone: 30 years working at SickKids.“When I went into nursing, I wasn’t planning to focus on paediatrics,” Kathy said. “But after several placements at SickKids during my nursing education, I was given the opportunity to begin my career at this world-renowned centre … and I’m still here 30 years later.”
In that time, Kathy has worked in many areas of SickKids in several different roles and has not only witnessed ground-breaking work but also the evolution of care.
“The atmosphere at SickKids is special. On the one hand, you have therapeutic clowns in the hallways, small chairs and tables and colouring books in clinic rooms – it’s unique. Then on the other hand you have the chance to implement cutting edge practice, new developments and technologies. Practice has changed a lot in 30 years.”
In her current role as a Nurse Practitioner working in the Heart Transplant Program at SickKids, Kathy works with children who have had a heart transplant and their families.
“In my role, I facilitate the continuity of care for children and their families throughout the trajectory of heart transplantation. I often work with a child and family for many years. In fact, I may meet a family with a newborn who has had a heart transplant and follow that child until they reach adulthood and transition to an adult care facility."
The opportunity to help a child and their family prepare for the transition from paediatric to adult care is an aspect of Kathy’s role that she is extremely passionate about. Understanding that the transition is not only difficult for teens, but for their parents as well, Kathy starts to prepare the family well in advance. Her goal when a teen makes the transition to adult care is for the teen to be able to articulate their health history and speak to a healthcare practitioner independently. This education begins years before the actual transition, and focuses on helping adolescents become increasingly independent with their own health management.
“As a Nurse Practitioner, I have an expanded scope of nursing practice that is intended to bridge gaps and help to provide seamless care to children and their families. Being able to facilitate care, as well as improve the continuity of care, is not only better for the child and their family, but for the healthcare system as well.”
Kathy’s dedication to patients and families has been recognized multiple times through the SMILE program, which provides the opportunity to acknowledge a SickKids staff member through a donation. When a staff member is honoured through the SMILE program, they will receive a SMILE pin along with a thank you card containing the news that a donation has been made in their honour.
For Kathy, these acknowledgments have been unexpected, but a pleasant surprise.
“I know the families I work with are very busy, especially if they are factoring in visits to SickKids. When I receive a SMILE, it’s made even more special because I know that very busy family took time out of their day to reach out and thank me, and by association also thank the colleagues and team I work with. That means we made an impact, and it feels terrific to know that.”
If a staff member at SickKids, like Kathy, has brought positivity, comfort or brightness to your day, consider saying thanks by honouring them with a SMILE.
A donation through the SMILE program helps support the most critical needs of the hospital as well as the Staff Continuing Professional Development Fund, which provides full and part-time staff at SickKids with the opportunity to advance their skills and increase their knowledge and expertise. SMILEs make a difference, so please consider giving one today.
In her current role as a Nurse Practitioner working in the Heart Transplant Program at SickKids, Kathy works with children who have had a heart transplant and their families.
“In my role, I facilitate the continuity of care for children and their families throughout the trajectory of heart transplantation. I often work with a child and family for many years. In fact, I may meet a family with a newborn who has had a heart transplant and follow that child until they reach adulthood and transition to an adult care facility."
"In my role, I facilitate the continuity of care for children and their families throughout the trajectory of heart transplantation."
“As a Nurse Practitioner, I have an expanded scope of nursing practice that is intended to bridge gaps and help to provide seamless care to children and their families. Being able to facilitate care, as well as improve the continuity of care, is not only better for the child and their family, but for the healthcare system as well.”
Kathy’s dedication to patients and families has been recognized multiple times through the SMILE program, which provides the opportunity to acknowledge a SickKids staff member through a donation. When a staff member is honoured through the SMILE program, they will receive a SMILE pin along with a thank you card containing the news that a donation has been made in their honour.
For Kathy, these acknowledgments have been unexpected, but a pleasant surprise.
“I know the families I work with are very busy, especially if they are factoring in visits to SickKids. When I receive a SMILE, it’s made even more special because I know that very busy family took time out of their day to reach out and thank me, and by association also thank the colleagues and team I work with. That means we made an impact, and it feels terrific to know that.”
If a staff member at SickKids, like Kathy, has brought positivity, comfort or brightness to your day, consider saying thanks by honouring them with a SMILE.
A donation through the SMILE program helps support the most critical needs of the hospital as well as the Staff Continuing Professional Development Fund, which provides full and part-time staff at SickKids with the opportunity to advance their skills and increase their knowledge and expertise. SMILEs make a difference, so please consider giving one today.
