Nursing Profile

Kay Herndon, BSN, RN, CCRN, CEN
WMC Emergency Department Clinical Team Leader/Educator

As a people pleaser by nature, nursing veteran Kay Herndon finds deep satisfaction in various aspects of her work.

“I always wanted to be nurse when I was growing up – I always wanted to help people,” she says. “I want to make a difference in patients’ lives. Nursing is a calling.”

In fulfilling that calling, Kay has also realized the importance of caring for patients’ loved ones. “Excellence in nursing is going that extra mile,” she says. “For example, get a blanket or water not just for the patient but for family members, as well. If there is an arrest in the ER, spend some time with family members in private and let them know what is going on or, if possible, allow them in the room and explain to them what is happening.”

During her 25 years at Wyoming Medical Center, Kay has looked to fellow nurse Karen Dutton, who helped start the hospital’s Life Flight program, for inspiration. “Not only did Karen train me to be an ER nurse, but she also trained me to be a flight nurse. She’s so smart. Her whole goal is patient safety. She’s very honest – if she doesn’t think a patient is being treated appropriately, she’ll speak up. She’s convincing in patient safety and in patient-care issues.”

Kay enjoys her own efforts as a mentor. She teaches a number of courses, including advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, the emergency nurse pediatric course and the trauma nurse core class. “I want to make a difference with new registered nurses, to help them in their education so that when my family members or I come in, they will know how to care for us to the best of their ability,” she says. “It is great when a student says, ‘I get it.’”