Winfield nurse honored as National Magnet Nurse of the Year by the American Nurses Credentialing Center

For more than 40 years, Kathy Trimble, of Winfield, has been dedicated to the most vulnerable patients – children with complex care needs. In recognition of her contributions to the nursing profession, Trimble is being honored as the National Magnet Nurse of the Year® by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

A seasoned Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Trimble was honored in the category of Exemplary Professional Practice. She helped pioneer the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Program at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. Colleagues and patients alike laud Trimble for her compassion, integrity, and wisdom.

“We have been continuously inspired by Kathy’s dedication to maintaining close, trusting bonds with every child and family member like they were her own,” said Laura Petrando, APRN, director, outpatient pediatrics, Lurie Children’s at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “Her genuine passion for treating the most complex and vulnerable patients is evident in the work she does every day.”

Stacy Lazzara, of South Elgin, met Trimble on the worst day of her life. Trimble was in the room with Stacy’s family in 2018 when they learned their then two-year-old daughter Averie had cancer.

“The diagnosis was devastating, but Kathy’s eyes were warm, her experience was evident, and the tone in her voice gave us hope that maybe, somehow, we could do this,” said Stacy Lazzara. “In the five years since then, Kathy has been many things to our family: a fearless leader, a compassionate friend, a steady hand, a warm embrace, even a summer camp counselor!”

Trimble was there to celebrate alongside the Lazzara family when Averie rang the bell in 2020 to mark the end of chemotherapy treatment. Today, she plays a key role in helping Averie and her family navigate long-term survivorship.

“Kathy is not just a fantastic nurse, she’s a fantastic person. We’re endlessly grateful to know her,” said Stacy.

In addition to her compassion, Trimble has played a critical role in enhancing quality and safe patient care. She developed and continues to lead a multidisciplinary Pediatric Oncology Quality Committee. One of her efforts involved leading the implementation of an electronic chemotherapy ordering system that allows for a personalized treatment plan using evidence-based protocols.

Thanks to Trimble’s collaboration with the Emergency Department through education and execution of an algorithmic approach, excellent outcomes have been maintained for patients presenting with presumed sepsis. Another crucial responsibility has been Trimble’s regular review of all adverse events, especially encompassing chemotherapy safety.

Additionally, Trimble committed herself to successfully educating every pediatric oncology nurse at Central DuPage Hospital in providing chemotherapy while championing equal access to treatment opportunities for patients. She sits on the Internal Review Board and was instrumental in the hospital’s journey to become a Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Affiliate Member institution.

“Kathy has always demonstrated our patient’s first mission and goes above and beyond to assure the patient receives holistic care throughout their journey,” said Suzanne T. McCoy, DNP, vice president and Flinn Family Chief Nursing Executive at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “This strong commitment to quality, safety and our patients makes Kathy a Magnet nurse!”

The National Magnet Nurse of the Year® awards recognize the outstanding contributions of clinical nurses in each of the five Magnet® Model components: Transformational Leadership; Structural Empowerment; Exemplary Professional Practice; New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements; and Empirical Outcomes.  The Exemplary Professional Practice award is sponsored by EBSCO.

The award was presented during the 2023 co-located ANCC National Magnet Conference® and ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® in Chicago.