Skip to contents
In This Issue:
For Oncology and Palliative Care nurse Karen Legere, BSN, RN, OCN, the most rewarding aspect of her work is the opportunity to get to know patients and help them through a very challenging time in their lives.
“I spend a lot of time in the room with my patients talking to them and ensuring that they are comfortable talking to me so that they can open up to me,” said Legere, who joined Tower 5B in 2006, after working in the Float Pool for four years. “The patients we take care of on 5B are so brave throughout their battles with cancer. They want to get better so badly, and they are incredibly active in their own care. It’s an honor to be with them at this time in their lives.”
On May 10, the Department of Nursing will honor Legere with the Essence of Nursing Award, the hospital’s highest internal honor for clinical staff nurses. The awards ceremony is one of the highlights of the annual Nurse Recognition Dinner, which will also honor the four exemplary nurses named as honorees: Mary Cote, MS, RN, of Shapiro 6 East and 7 East/West; Diane Miller, MPA/H, BSN, RN, of Tower 11C; William Poirier, MSN, RN, of Tower 9CD; and Karen Wallace, BSN, RN, of Tower 6A.
“As we enter into this year’s nurse recognition festivities, we are celebrating the compassion and dedication of every nurse in the BWH community,” said Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer Jackie Somerville, PhD, RN. “I am so proud of the excellent nursing care and caring practices that I witness daily and hear about in conversations with nurses, our interdisciplinary colleagues and our patients and their families.”
Sandra Therrien, an oncology patient, remembers the way that Legere made her feel while she was receiving care on Tower 5B.
“The first time Karen walked into my room, I knew immediately that I would be OK and that I’d get better,” said Therrien. “She treats everybody like a human being; you just feel very comfortable with her. And she always has a smile when she comes in.”
Establishing this kind of relationship is the very core of Legere’s nursing practice—she strives to make every patient feel known and safe in her care as she supports them through their battle with cancer.
“I have worked in a lot of great places, but the Brigham has the most amazing patient care,” Legere said. “As nurses, we have an incredible amount of support. There’s always someone coming to your pod—an educator, quality director or director—to make sure you have all the resources you need. You’re not practicing alone.”
The Department of Nursing will honor all nurses during a series of special events planned throughout May. The highlights include a breakfast for preceptors, the Nurse Recognition Dinner, Somerville’s State of the Department address on May 9 at 11:30 a.m. in Bornstein Amphitheater and ice cream socials at BWH and at ambulatory sites.
Sandra Therrien and Karen Legere connected instantly when they first met.