(July 12, 2024) – The Kansas Hospital Association's Heart of Health Care Worker Award highlights hospital employees who have made a significant contribution to the betterment of their hospital. These individuals are nominated for this award because they routinely go above and beyond the call of duty.
From the beginning of her nursing career, Kathi McKinney has always been about her patients. Called a "super great RN," McKinney took a personal approach to all her patients making her a highly valued team member within Labette Health.
As the vice president and chief nursing officer, McKinney is a great motivator and inspires co-workers to give their best to the hospital. She encourages the development of drills and skills that serve patients by keeping staff prepared for things that rarely happen, like Malignant Hyperthermia drills, shoulder dystocia, post-partum hemorrhage and evening and night shift Code Blues.
McKinney sets a wonderful example every day. She never shares unkind words toward or about others and always tries to redirect conversations with a positive connotation. When she enters a unit or a room, you feel her positive presence. People want to know what she says or thinks; her opinion is highly regarded. McKinney has earned the respect of everyone in the entire organization.
McKinney goes above and beyond the call of duty – even recruiting community members to work at the hospital. She sees a need and starts working to address it, even if it's making phone calls to colleagues, contacts, friends and family to find quality people who might want to work in health care.
McKinney, and other Heart of Health Care Worker Award nominees, will be recognized during the KHA Awards Luncheon at the 2024 KHA Annual Convention on Sept. 5, 2024, at Sheraton Overland Park/Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park.
--Shelby Stacy