Cathy Seymour has been a registered nurse with KHSC for 33 years. Now a clinical learning specialist, she’s training the next generation of critical care teams while still lending a helping hand on the front lines.
Credit
Matthew Manor/KHSC
It can be a rewarding experience working in critical care at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), but it’s also tough.
Just ask Cathy Seymour.
A registered nurse for 33 years, she’s been working on Intensive Care Units (ICU) for more than 20 of them.
Now a clinical learning specialist, she’s training the next generation of critical care teams.
“I thrive in the fast-paced environment of critical care. It challenges me to critically think and I enjoy continuously learning and adapting in real time,” says Seymour. “There is an enormous amount of education that must be provided before a nurse can work independently in critical care. I must keep up with current best practice and new research to implement these into our standards of care, so patients receive the best possible outcomes. It is important to me to be approachable and supportive to everyone.”
Patients admitted to the ICU have life-threatening conditions.
Every minute counts, especially for example when there’s a patient who just had a stroke.
“Some treatments require medications and monitoring that can only be completed in a critical care unit. Without these medications and interventions many patients would be left with permanent, debilitating deficits after a stroke. They might even require long-term care.
“With the work we do many patients can return to their previous lifestyle with minimal or no deficits after a stroke. For patients with lasting effects of stroke our care involves helping to understand what their wishes are and directing management towards that goal.”
Her current role may focus on providing education, but she’s also lending a helping hand on the front lines.
“Given our current health care challenges, I frequently provide direct patient care because it is what my colleagues need and ultimately why I am here. Caring for patients is what attracted me to nursing and I know I make a difference for staff, patients and their families. The friendships and supports that I have at KHSC energize me to keep going.”
One of those supports is her sister and BFF Anne Vincent, a charge technologist at KHSC.
And there’s also a certain Kingston band that always pumps her up.
“I am addicted to The Glorious Sons! When COVID-19 was at its worst in the ICU, I would listen to them, loudly, on my 30 minute drive home to de-stress. By the time I got home I was able to leave the work day behind me and just be with my family.”
Gallery
Cathy Seymour has been a registered nurse with KHSC for 33 years. Now a clinical learning specialist, she’s training the next generation of critical care teams while still lending a helping hand on the front lines.
