Page 22 - May 2019 with HCHeroes

Salute to Nursing... Salute to Nursing... Salute to Nursing... Salute to Nursing... Salute to

ST. MARY’S MEDICAL CENTER PALM BEACH GARDENS MEDICAL CENTER

Kaitlin Wilkerson, ADN, BSN, RN Carole Tordi, ADN, RN

Kaitlin Wilkerson has been close to medical field Carole Tordi has been a nurse for 10 years, with four
since she was five years old. Her sister was diagnosed of those years spent at Palm Beach Gardens Medical
with cancer as a two year old, and Kaitlin always Center. Carole cities the desire to help people and their
remembers the nurses being so kind and caring during families as to why she wanted to become a nurse. Carole
her sister’s illness. She knew then that nursing was what says as a nurse, no matter who it is that you’re taking
she wanted to do. Kaitlin is a nurse at the Palm Beach care of, always apply kindness, love and compassion.
Children’s Hospital on the oncology unit. She loves Carole says it’s the interaction, relationships, and mak-
meeting new and different people at her job. She finds it ing a difference in people’s lives that she enjoys the most
to be a very humbling experience, and really puts life about being a nurse, as well as the unlimited opportuni-
into perspective when caring for the very sick. She ties. Carole’s most memorable moment was running
thinks of the children she treats as family, and always into a former patient at a grocery store who told her
says that people won’t always remember you or your what a difference she made while he was being treated
name, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel. Outside of nursing, in the hospital. When Carole isn’t working, she enjoys biking, going to the beach and
Kaitlin enjoys hanging out with her two Chihuahuas, Weezy and Willow. She also volunteering at her son’s school.
enjoys going to the beach with her friends and her husband.

Rachel Valentine, ASN, BSN,
Matthew Rynard, ADN, RN MSN, RN

Matthew Rynard has spent his entire career at St. Rachel Valentine has a big heart, and it shows when
Mary’s Medical Center. Matthew felt he wanted a career she cares for her patients at Palm Beach Gardens Medical
where he could make a difference in someone’s life on a Center. Rachel wanted to become a nurse after her expe-
daily basis, so nursing seemed like the perfect choice. rience as a patient-family volunteer in hospice. From
Matt says he enjoys the sense of teamwork from his fel- there, Rachel never looked back, as she has spent the
low nurses and working toward the same goal of help- past three years at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.
ing others. For Matt, he feels he gets to work with his Rachel says what’s most rewarding about being a nurse is
family every day. Being a nurse has allowed Matt to grow the ability to help someone in their darkest and scariest
more as an individual, and it affords a perspective he day, and many times, see that person improve. She
wouldn’t normally have the privilege of having other- always loves when former patients and their families
wise. The biggest satisfaction Matthew gets out of being come back to visit once they’ve recovered. Rachel enjoys
a nurse is when a patient returns many months later the close-knit bond among her co-workers. She credits the teamwork in the hospital
after being discharged to say thank you. In Matthew’s words, “There is no other feel- as the thing that sets Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center apart from other hospitals.
ing like it.”
When Rachel isn’t taking care of patients, you can find her enjoying the outdoors with
her husband Matt, and her dog Remy.

WEST BOCA MEDICAL CENTER

Yasuko Henderson, BSN, RN

Yasuko Henderson takes care of the tiniest of patients
Specializing in Medically in the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at West
Boca Medical Center. Yasuko has been a part of the staff
Complex Patients at West Boca for nearly 16 years. Yasuko always finds joy
when she teaches a mom how to bond with their baby
Kindred Hospitals are owned by Kindred while they’re being treated in the NICU. Helping that
Healthcare, Inc., a national network of Long Term mom experience that wonderful moment for the first
Acute Care Hospitals (LTACH's). time is something she always gets the most satisfaction
from. Yasuko says having the opportunity to get to know
Kindred Hospitals provide specialized, high quality each patient allows her to teach the parents, and encour-
care for acutely ill patients. For more than a decade, age them so they can be directly involved in the care of
we have fine-tuned the art of medically complex care.
their baby. Yasuko’s hobbies outside of nursing include
Our services range from complex catastrophic reading romance and mystery novels, watching her daughter compete at gymnastics
illnesses that require intensive care, post-surgical medical tournaments and practicing her Tae Kwon Do where she holds a 2nd degree black
rehabilitation to patients suffering from chronic diseases requiring respiratory and belt.
rehabilitative therapies. Kindred Hospitals provide outcome-oriented
cost effective care for patients with a wide spectrum of Julie Smith, MSN, BSN, ADN, RN
medical conditions.
Julie Smith works in the emergency room at West Boca
Admissions to Kindred Hospitals may be Medical Center. She loves being able to make a differ-
recommended by physicians, acute-care hospitals, ence in someone’s life. She also says there’s nothing like
rehabilitation hospitals, managed care providers, case saving someone’s life who is in need of emergent care.
management companies or by the patient’s family. Julie finds her job highly rewarding to help someone in
In all cases family tours are encouraged.
need. No two shifts are alike, and there is always some-
thing exciting around the corner to learn. One of the
most memorable experiences for Julie was when she
Kindred Hospital Kindred Hospital Kindred Hospital Kindred Hospital worked during Hurricane Irma both during and after the
storm. She really saw her team come together and work
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Coral Gables The Palm Beaches
1516 East Las Olas Blvd. 1859 Van Buren St. 5190 Southwest Eighth St. 5555 West Blue Heron Blvd really hard through a difficult time. Julie is extremely
Ft. Lauderdale FL 33301 Hollywood, FL 33020 Coral Gables, FL 33134 Riviera Beach, FL 33418 active outside of working. She loves being in the water,
954-764-8900, ext. 5136 954-920-9000 305-448-1585 561-904-8451 including, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, collecting seashells, reading and run-
www.khfortlauderdale.com www.khsfhollywood.com www.khcoralgables.com www.khthepalmbeaches.com ning.

22 May 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News