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Kathy McCormick, RN, CBIS, WWC
Kathy McCormick, RN,
CBIS, WWC
Profile: "Being a Nurse Defines
Me"
I
have been a nurse all my adult life. That’s who I am - being
a nurse defines me.
I was born and raised in New York State in what’s known as
the Southern Tier area... When I was in high school I
originally wanted to be a teacher. My guidance counselor back
them saw something in me and felt that I had the qualities
needed to be in the helping professions and talked to me about
becoming a nurse. I thought about it and decided that is what
I wanted to do. Immediately after high school I attended
Alfred State College in the nursing program and I’ve been a
nurse since I was nineteen.
My first position as a nurse was in regional medical center. I
was there for five years and basically I learned “the ropes,”
by working literally in every nursing department including
ObGyn, surgical intensive care, and supervision. It was
valuable working in a hospital where I got to do a lot of
things and I gained a lot of experience that I have drawn on
throughout my career as a Nurse.
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Kathy
McCormick with occupational therapist Brooke Gabriels, MS, OTR/L,
CBIS.
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After
I was married, we relocated to the Capital District of New
York State and I began working in long-term care. I spent
twenty-five years in long-term care - twenty of those years I
worked the night shift. For a number of years I was a
nurse-manager.
During that time I worked with a geriatric population,
including individuals with dementias. That group of people has
a lot to teach a nurse because they can be so challenging and
their needs are so special. I also learned early on to support
and involve their families. Family members really help you to
understand the person since they know them best and that helps
me meet the needs of the individual more effectively. I’ve
relied on a close relationship with families throughout the
years.
Six years ago a friend of mine, who is also a nurse, began
working at Northeast Center for Special Care. She talked a lot
about working with people who have had a traumatic brain
injury and how unique and rewarding it was helping people
through their rehabilitation, helping them re-learn and
recover lost skills and watching them progress and eventually
reintegrate back to their communities.
That stimulated my interest because I learned that Northeast
Center had a mission of community reentry which was quite
different from traditional long-term care. I thought that I
would like to take on a challenge like that and I did a lot of
soul-searching because the commute would be longer for me. I
decided to apply at Northeast Center and I said if I got the
job I would give it a year and see how I like it. Six years
later and I’m still here!
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Unit
Manager Robin Fairley, RN, CBIS and Kathy McCormick. |
With
all my experience to build upon, I was amazed at how much
there was to learn. My first position here was as a Nurse
Manager for the Ventilator Care Program, which I held for two
years. The Ventilator Care program is phenomenal and I worked
with an experienced, dedicated staff of nurses and registered
respiratory therapists. It was a challenging job and I have
great satisfaction in having seen so many people being weaned
from ventilators, work through their rehabilitation to become
independent, and be able to return to their homes and
families.
Four years ago I was asked to become an Assistant Director of
Nursing at Northeast Center. I did a lot of soul searching
again because I loved my job as Nurse Manager, but I finally
decided to accept the new responsibilities.
As Assistant Director of Nursing I oversee the
ventilator/respiratory unit as well as our complex medical
recovery unit. In this position I am able to work closely with
our Resident-Neighbors who have had a brain injury. I am able
to draw on my years of experience to assist people with
cognitive limitations. I never thought I would be successful
in really helping someone with a TBI, but the
Resident-Neighbors quickly responded to my friendly, helpful,
and secure presence. The wonderful thing is that I get to see
people really improve and I have been able to say goodbye and
good luck to so many people who have been able to return home
and resume their lives.
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Kathy
McCormick with Julie Cole, CBIS, Director of Medical Records.
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With
all my experience to build upon, I was amazed at how much
there was to learn. My first position here was as a Nurse
Manager for the Ventilator Care Program, which I held for two
years. The Ventilator Care program is phenomenal and I worked
with an experienced, dedicated staff of nurses and registered
respiratory therapists. It was a challenging job and I have
great satisfaction in having seen so many people being weaned
from ventilators, work through their rehabilitation to become
independent, and be able to return to their homes and
families.
Four years ago I was asked to become an Assistant Director of
Nursing at Northeast Center. I did a lot of soul searching
again because I loved my job as Nurse Manager, but I finally
decided to accept the new responsibilities. I am now the
Director of Nursing at Northeast Center and every day is a new
and fulfilling challenge.
As Director of Nursing I oversee the
ventilator/respiratory unit as well as our complex medical
recovery unit. In this position I am able to work closely with
our Resident-Neighbors who have had a brain injury. I am able
to draw on my years of experience to assist people with
cognitive limitations. I never thought I would be successful
in really helping someone with a TBI, but the
Resident-Neighbors quickly responded to my friendly, helpful,
and secure presence. The wonderful thing is that I get to see
people really improve and I have been able to say goodbye and
good luck to so many people who have been able to return home
and resume their lives.
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