KITTY WEAVER
RN, BSN
Kitty Weaver finds great satisfaction from educating patients when they are experiencing either chronic illness or needing end-of-life services.“I had the opportunity to work with my father-in-law, an elderly aunt and a friend’s mother at the end of their lives,” she said. “It became a passion of mine to assist people at this very vulnerable time.”Weaver is currently the director of palliative care for LTC Health Solutions, a sister company of Agape Hospice. She has worked in many different aspects of nursing over her 30-year career but has been working in the hospice realm since 2012.“In palliative care, it is rewarding to offer help to people who are suffering with chronic illness but not yet needing hospice services,” she said. “I enjoy helping people with symptom management and advance care planning so that they can focus on the quality of their life.”
AMY WILLIAMS
DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC
Amy Williams is an assistant professor in the Masters of Science and Doctorate of Nursing Practice program at MUSC. She also provides primary care to patients at the MUSC University Pediatrics – Northwoods in North Charleston. Her specialty is pediatrics, and she takes particular interest in childhood obesity, childhood asthma and in promoting culturally effective health care, which is why she is fluent in Spanish and speaks it at her clinic in North Charleston regularly.“I’ve always loved working with children and the same was true when I became a nurse,” Williams said.Williams also said that she loves the level of teamwork that goes into pediatric care.“There was and continues to be an initiative to care for them as holistically as possible. That may mean helping them overcome illness, manage chronic conditions or maintain optimum levels of health,” she said.As a nurse educator, Williams encourages nurses to commit to being their best by always continuing to learn.“Stay educated on the latest trends and always take care of yourself first. Our patients and communities depend on you,” she said.
KELLY HOLMES
RN, BSN, CPT, USAR
Kelly Holmes works as a nurse on the labor and delivery unit at East Cooper Medical Center and, for the past nine years, has worked as a nurse in the Army Reserves.Holmes was working in women’s health diagnostic sales in 2006 when she decided to pursue a career in labor and delivery nursing.“I was selling a test to assess risk of preterm delivery, and most of my job was educating nurses on the test. I had a passion to be on the other side,” she said. “I wanted to be the one taking care of these patients.”For Holmes, what she loves most about labor and delivery is certainly witnessing the miracle of birth, but she also enjoys observing families — how they interact in the delivery room and how the baby is introduced to the siblings. She advises other nurses to always take the most difficult patients.“You will learn the most from them,” she said.She also feels incredibly honored to be serving her country in the Army Reserves.“The Army Reserves has afforded me some extraordinary learning experiences and has taken me to some very interesting places,” she said. “I’m honored to serve this country and the soldiers of the Armed Forces alongside some phenomenal medical professionals.”We have partnered with the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing to highlight some of the Lowcountry’s top nurses. HealthLinks Charleston wants to recognize nurses as the backbone of our medical community and thank them for all their efforts!
DR. JOY LAURER
PMHCNS BC, PSYCHIATRIC APRN
Not only is Dr. Joy Lauerer an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at MUSC, but, for the past 15 years, she has maintained her own practice of treating preschoolers to young adults with mental health issues. She lectures nationally on children’s behavioral health issues, and even has experience practicing at One80 Place, the homeless shelter in Charleston, where she was responsible for the mental health care of the children and families who lived there.Dr. Lauerer said that her favorite part of being a nurse is helping children and families find hope.“I love interacting with patients and their families,” she said. “It is so important to me that they find hope, find ways to solve their problems and develop strengths.”She also practices at Coastal Pediatrics, providing behavioral health care in a pediatric primary care setting.Dr. Lauerer gives great advice to anyone wanting to pursue nursing as a career.“Always work hard and develop great mentors,” she said. “And don’t forget to practice good self-care as you are the role models in the community.”
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