Kristy is now a part of the Encompass team as Director of Clinical Resources. When I asked her what made her decide to come on board she had a very eloquent answer. She realized how much positive change she could affect via touching thousands through our nurse education programs, clinical product evaluation trials, and innovative product development. Kristy embodies the definition of grit and grace – she truly is a nurse hero.
What motivated you to become a nurse?
Kristy Warren: It all starts when I was 9 years old. I was the only child in an adult hospital with complex appendix issues that required multiple surgeries. Even at that young age, I developed a great relationship with the nurses and admired their empathy. Their trust and compassion sparked my passion for healthcare. I also have family in the nursing field including my Grandmother.
What is the best part of being a nurse?
Warren: As an ER Nurse, I was able to tap into my two key passions: healthcare and investigation. I have always loved both and was torn on what to study – law enforcement/investigative work and healthcare. ER nursing requires a complex skillset: the ability to decipher clues to figure out diagnoses and the compassion and empathy to ensure good care. Bringing them together helped me make a difference for those who entered my ER. Further in my career, I found that continuous improvement in making healthcare better for all, continuous education, and being a part of small steps of change are at the top of the list for being the best part of being a nurse.
What is the most challenging part of being a nurse?
Warren: One word: Stress. As an ER nurse, you learn quickly to develop resilience. You also learn to trust your colleagues, your team. You learn to understand each other, keep each other’s spirits up. You cry and laugh together. You save people together. In nursing, there are physical stressors as well as mental stressors. It is important to take care of yourself mentally and physically to afford the opportunity to care for others safely and effectively. Keeping this in mind, I was able to care for others in very high-stress environments for an extended period of my career.
How do you stay motivated and positive?
Warren: Of course, my family is central to staying positive. My two daughters mean the world to me. So does my team. I could not do any of this without them. From a motivation perspective, central to my growth and forward movement was taking on new challenges. I went back to school and earned my Masters in Nurse Education, following my passion for continuous education and growing a new generation of nurses. Over the course of my career, I was tapped for many different leadership positions of increasing responsibility including Charge Nurse, Nurse Educator for Critical Care, and Leading all Educators in my facility. I then combined my passion for education and leadership and eventually went on to lead a critical care team and help turn one of our units around from the poorest metrics to the best metrics. As a nurse leader, I strived to ensure staff was treated fairly and equally and focused on strengths, learning, and growth opportunities for all.
What can we do to be supportive of you and all healthcare workers during this pandemic?
Warren: While the last three years have taken their toll in so many ways, I’ve also seen some positive outcomes. So many have developed new skills and ways to stay resilient. Somehow through all the loss, our front-line workers have stayed resilient and continue on. We need to thank all those who deal with this every day.
If there was one wish you could grant, what would it be?
Warren: This one is simple. The gift of time. There are no guaranteed tomorrows and the pandemic has shown us that.
Is there anything you’d like to share about your experience being a nurse?
Warren: I guess I would want everyone to know that small steps can make a big difference. Small changes make big impacts. Don’t be afraid to stretch, to dream, and to go for it.
Sponsored: Encompass