Moments of Pride: Katie Webb (B.S.’14/N)
In celebration of Nurses Week 2020 and as part of our Moments of Pride series, VCU School of Nursing is highlighting what alumni enjoy about nursing and how their education has prepared them for their career, especially in situations like the current pandemic.
Meet Katie Webb (B.S.’14/N), RN, CCRN, who works as a clinical nurse III at VCU Health in the Medical Respiratory ICU, serving as the Champion of Infection Prevention (CHIP) for her unit.
Q. How has your VCU School of Nursing education prepared you for your work as a nurse, particularly in situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic?
A. My senior synthesis clinical was in the MRICU. Critical care is an amazing field. ICU nurses are prepared to care for all critically ill patients, but the MRICU nurses especially care for patients who develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) (a serious complication of Covid-19) every day. The physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and nurses in the MRICU collaborate tirelessly to develop and refine protocols to safely care for the Covid-19 patients requiring ICU level of care. Having my clinicals at VCU Health enabled me to develop relationships with these members of the interprofessional team as a student, and later empowered me to advocate for all of my patients as an RN.
Q. What do you enjoy most about being a nurse?
A. Working with people who do amazing things every day.
Q. Can you share any words of encouragement or advice to current and future nurses?
A. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions. Also, many patients are scared while they are in the hospital, and taking the extra time to explain things to them in a way they can understand can make a big difference.