Kate Smith

Background

About Kate Smith

My mission is to care for patients of all ages by giving phenomenal evidence-based care that is structured to each individual and situation. My vision is is to be kind, compassionate and empathetic while always providing safe and competent care to my patients. My values include kindness, compassion, empathy, integrity and being a hard worker. Working in the medical field is something that I have had an interest in most of my life. About six years ago, I started this dream as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Idaho. I worked on various units and facilities, learning about both long-term and acute care for patients of all ages and backgrounds. In my scope of practice, I have gained advanced ostomy skills and special training on malignant hyperthermia emergencies. Most recently, I have spent the last two years working at an outpatient surgery center, where I was able to work as a CNA in the Pre-Op and PACU, as well as shadow several nurses and anesthesia providers in the OR, PACU and Pre-Op. Along with working as CNA over the past several years, I have also been in school full-time, pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse. I am currently going to school at Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYUI) and am on track to graduate with my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing in July of 2024. While excelling in this rigorous program, I have also been working at BYUI's Nursing Department Lab, where I am a Lab Tutor and help other nursing students learn the best practice in preforming nursing skills. This tutoring experience has allowed me to learn nursing skills quickly and precisely, which has helped me feel calm and confident in numerous clinical experiences. My love for helping others has not just been limited to helping those in the hospital or other healthcare facilities. I spent a year, from September of 2020 until September 2021, volunteering full-time in Louisiana, helping the people of Louisiana with natural disaster clean up, volunteering at food banks, and many more ways. In September of 2021, I went to northern and central France to volunteer for another six months. Through my studies beforehand and in this volunteer service, I was able to learn and speak French fluently. This volunteer experiences were able to change my outlook on the world and help me understand that everyone is on their own path in life and that compassion and kindness are two of the most important qualities that one can acquire.