Kathy Cramer, RN, serves as a pre-op charge nurse at Mercy Health – Perrysburg Hospital in our Toledo market. With a dedicated tenure of five years at Mercy Health and a robust 43-year nursing career, Kathy embodies a wealth of experience and passion for patient care.
Her devotion to nursing stems from a profound love for people and a deep-seated belief in providing them with a sense of security, empowerment and comfort through compassionate, high-quality care. Kathy sees nursing not just as a profession but as a divine calling to fulfill the purpose for which humanity was created.
At Mercy Health – Perrysburg Hospital, Kathy operates within a dynamic surgical environment, catering to a diverse range of cases due to the influx of patients following the closure of a nearby hospital. This bustling setting presents both challenges and opportunities for nurses like Kathy, who must continuously adapt to evolving health care landscapes.
Nursing at Mercy Health entails far more than clinical expertise; it demands adaptability, foresight and seamless collaboration across various departments to ensure optimal patient outcomes. The perioperative care team, of which Kathy is an integral part, orchestrates a comprehensive patient journey from pre-admission to post-recovery, fostering an environment of reassurance and support every step of the way.
Central to Kathy’s approach is our Mission of extending the compassionate ministry of Jesus, a guiding principle that resonates deeply with her faith-based values.
“My favorite thing about working with patients who are nervous, scared or uncomfortable before surgery is that I have an opportunity to try to ease their anxiety and make them comfortable. I love to offer prayer at the bedside and have found that patients are extremely grateful,” Kathy says.
Outside the hospital, Kathy finds fulfillment in serving others through volunteer work, particularly through ministering to inmates in prison.
“Like nursing, our vision and mission require us to work together with the compassionate care of Jesus to bring hope to the hopeless,” she explains. This Christ-centered initiative allows her to bring hope and healing to incarcerated women, embodying the transformative power of love and forgiveness.
In both her professional and personal endeavors, Kathy embodies the essence of servanthood, echoing the teachings of Jesus to serve the least among us with compassion and grace. Through her unwavering commitment to compassionate care, Kathy leaves an everlasting mark on the lives she touches, embodying the true spirit of nursing.
Not only is National Nurses Month in May, but National Nurses Week is May 6 to May 12.
To all our nurses, we thank you for the excellent care you provide our patients every day! Read more of our nurses’ stories to celebrate.
Also, if you’re a nurse or a health care professional, we invite you to explore and pursue a career with us.
