Katy Wilkens, R.N., BSN, MBA, won the 2014 Arizona March of Dimes Nurse of the Year award in the Critical Care category. Wilkens, who works at Northern Arizona Healthcare, is the director of Critical Care Services at Flagstaff Medical Center. She was one of three finalists in this category, and one of seven nurses from Northern Arizona Healthcare to be named a finalist.
“I am honored to have been selected for this award and to be part of the distinguished group of nurses who have been recognized in the past,” Wilkens said. “This award is a true testament to the staff and the level of care we provide at Northern Arizona Healthcare. We are dedicated to our patients and to each other. My name may be on the award, but the recognition belongs to every person I work with in the critical care units.”
Wilkens joined NAH in July 2011 in her current position, which includes overseeing the hemodialysis unit and four adult critical care units. She also served as the interim director of FMC’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab. She is the clinical leader of the hospital’s rapid response and code blue teams who respond when a patient’s condition begins to decline or the patient has stopped breathing.
“Katy’s experience and leadership has allowed FMC to enhance the level of care we provide to patients who are critically ill or injured,” said Lindy Parker, B.S.N., M.H.A., FMC interim chief nursing officer. “Through her compassion and advocacy, she has made a significant impact on how patients and families are cared for when facing very difficult health situations.” FBN