Katie Bradley

A mentor, patient advocate and team-builder, Katie Bradley, BSN, RN, nurse-in-charge, is seen by her colleagues as a guiding light on the Surgical Gynecologic Oncology unit.

“Katie brings the art of caring to nursing and strives to build trusting relationships with her patients and colleagues,” wrote nursing director MaryKate Hegarty, MSN, RN, PCCN, in a letter of support for Bradley’s award nomination. “The oncology patient population is very complex in their surgical and mental health needs. Katie gets to know the human side of her patients and advocates for them every step of the way.”

Elizabeth Callaghan, BSN, RN, who was precepted by Bradley, described a situation in which a patient felt “desperately hopeless” and overwhelmed by issues with her ostomy appliance. Bradley was tireless in her efforts to support the patient emotionally while addressing the issues with the appliance and seeking a permanent solution in consultation with the ostomy nurse.

“The endless hours of compassionate care Katie provided helped the patient regain a sense of normalcy during an unfamiliar and stressful time,” said Callaghan. “The bond between Katie and the patient was awe-inspiring and will be remembered by all on our unit.”

Leah Slattery, PA-C, shared that Bradley’s compassion for her patients extends beyond their discharge as she checks in on patients recovering at home. “Throughout all the phases of the patient experience, Katie exhibits compassion for not only her patients but also their families, knowing what difficult times they are likely enduring and what struggles lie ahead,” Slattery shared. “I know Katie to have been a great source of support and comfort for so many patients over the years.”

Bradley is just as deeply committed to supporting her colleagues on the unit as a charge nurse.

She recently led efforts to institute an informal check-in for new staff, which led to a retention rate of 100 percent for newly licensed nurses on the floor from 2022 to 2023. As a clinical instructor for Simmons University, Bradley is also passionate about teaching the next generation of nurses.

“Katie forms trusting relationships with her nursing students while helping them to critically think through assignments,” wrote Shannen Corrigan, BSN, RN. “Her students leave their clinical experience with a sense of confidence that not all clinical instructors can instill.”

Bradley’s commitment to excellence in patient care has led her to participate in many initiatives on the unit and beyond. She presented a poster with colleagues about the

Katie Bradley and MaryKate Hegarty, nursing director

implementation of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program at a recent conference. The data from the project was published and highlighted how the ERAS interventions led to decreased instances of catheter-associated urinary tract infections, falls and hospital-acquired pressure injuries.

As co-chair of the unit-based practice council, Bradley worked to encourage colleagues to present at the ERAS USA conference and led the application process for the unit’s silver level Beacon Award.

Shannen Corrigan and Katie Bradley

She also led a team in fundraising and participating in the Mighty Moose Foundation’s annual 5K to support the research of BWH’s Kevin Elias, MD, in ovarian cancer detection. The team received the “most inspirational team” award during the event in 2023.

As for Bradley, she can’t imagine having any other profession than nursing. “Helping others is something that brings me enjoyment and peace at the same time,” she said.

Bradley received her BSN from the University of New Hampshire and is currently enrolled in the MSN program at Simmons College.

Nominated by Elizabeth Callaghan, BSN, RN and Shannen Corrigan, BSN, RN, with letters of support from MaryKate Hegarty, MSN, RN, PCCN, nursing director, and Leah Slattery, PA-C