Blessing Health System issued the following announcement on May 5.
Katie Couch, RN, VA-BC, says she did not find a career in nursing. It found her.
“When I was a child in Beardstown, probably around 6 or 7 years old, I was a nurse for Halloween,” she said. “I guess the profession chose me.”
Her career began at the age of 15, working in a nursing home where she passed water and made beds. She remained working in long term care through high school and after earning her LPN license.
Upon achieving RN status, Katie joined Illini Community Hospital where she found a perfect fit professionally and personally for a mother of three.
“I could be a nurse and a mom. That was wonderful for me,” Katie said of Illini.
In her 11 years at Illini, Katie’s coworkers have become family, too.
“It’s a family environment. I work with my friends,” she stated. “And at Illini, you can wear multiple hats. You are not just part of one floor or unit. On any given day you can see nurses from around the hospital in ER, in outpatient, helping on acute care. We help each other out.”
Katie is Illini’s only vascular access (VA-BC) certified nurse. She uses her special knowledge to place peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines for all the hospital’s patients who need more complex care by intravenous means.
Katie was supported by Blessing Health System in that accomplishment and in the continuing education her certification requires. She encourages fellow nurses to take advantage of that support and to seek specialty certification.
“If there is an area of nursing practice that is near and dear to a nurse, I think specializing and becoming certified can make you a better nurse,” she said.
As Katie’s son considers a nursing career and traveling the world with the United States Navy, she looks forward to continuing her career at Illini Community Hospital.
“I love patient care. I want to be hands on. I can’t see myself spending a lot of time in meetings and board rooms. You are going to see me at the bedside. I am happy to come to work every day. I am good right where I am at.”
Original source can be found here.
Source: Blessing Health System
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