Walk Peacefully and Quietly into the Sunset!
That's the exit Kim Carter, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, Sr Director of Nursing Research envisions for herself...because that is who she is. One of the must humble and modest leaders I have ever known. Kim will be retiring from Carilion on Friday. John Quincy Adams said, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader". Those are words that Kim lived by. In her over 37 year career, Kim was a staff nurse, public health nurse, nurse educator, professor, researcher and published author. There are so many adjectives to describe Kim as a person and a leader, but I'll take a stab at them starting with supportive, funny, warm, SMART, engaging, a GREAT mentor, optimist, accountable, courageous and without a doubt, passionate about her work as a nurse researcher and molder of future nurse researchers.
She has mentored hundreds of nurses, students and interns in her 8 years with Carilion. She wanted our nurses to be the best advocates for themselves and their patients, she gently nudged them into nursing research, supporting nurses in developing studies around increasing pneumococcal vaccinations in ambulatory surgery settings, mindfulness, nurse self-care, mental health, post-sternotomy dressings, healthy work environments, patient sleep interruptions and countless more studies. Our summer interns not only performed routine, daily tasks, but Kim made sure she connected them with healthcare professionals in fields they were interested in to be able to shadow or just have an educated conversation with an expert, to ensure they experienced the "real" healthcare world and developed relationships within our organization.
I could go on and on, but those of you who know Kim do not need me to express what a wonderful mentor, teacher and friend Kim has been during her time with Carilion. We wish her the BEST and hope her retirement is as fulfilling and exciting as the work she did at Carilion! We will miss you! *She's taking out her red pen as we speak to make edits on my post!! Always the educator!
