Her Story
About Katie
I've been a nurse for 23 years. My first year was really tough coming out of nursing school at 22, very young and naive in a culture that ate their young. That motivated me to change the care environment to be more welcoming and supportive. I got my master's degree in nursing education and spent almost 10 years nurturing and developing new nurses and team members. Then I pursued my doctorate and moved into a manager-type role to support team members more formally. Now in oncology at IU Health, I run day-to-day operations, ensure staffing and skill mix, have professional development conversations, and support organizational initiatives like the magnet journey so nurses have a voice in their workflow.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Katie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the support of my family and great mentors along the way. It's important to have the support of family and friends or a support circle, and to find mentors within your profession to help you grow.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Know your value and know your worth, and align your position with that value and your worth. Find something that doesn't feel like a job, something you're passionate about and love doing.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be bold. Be brave. And don't let the tough days outshine the positive. Sometimes in healthcare the tough days are more than the positives, but seeing how you can positively impact a patient or their family brings so much joy and reconnects you to your purpose.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are patient access to care, with more patients needing services than providers and nurses available. Resources are limited, and frequent changes in administration at the government level impact reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, affecting non-profits like IU Health.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I am very faith-based as a Christian. I strive to treat people with love and kindness. I want to respect people and their decisions. In healthcare, it's patient-centered care - do what's right by people, even when it's a hard decision that may not be the most favorable.
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