Karen & Wally’s Story

Karen Cwalina has been a mother/baby nurse in the Kaleida Health system for twenty-five of her 27 years as an RN. A 1980 graduate of the Buffalo General Hospital School of Nursing, Karen has worked Labor and Delivery at Deaconess, Buffalo General Hospital, Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and for the last several years at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

Wally Cwalina and Karen Cwalina have nursing careers and a marriage that spans 3 decades. Wally Cwalina is a 30-year nursing veteran and the Medical Staff Quality Patient Safety Liaison for Kaleida Health. A 1977 graduate of the Buffalo General Hospital School of Nursing, Wally has spent his entire career at the Buffalo General Hospital site.

Both exemplify excellence in nursing practice and have found their satisfaction in taking care of patients. Wally was a GI nurse for most of his career and in 1986, he was the first Western New York area nurse to become GI nurse certified. He served as president elect of Regional (WNY) Association of GI Nurses (SGNA) and in 2004, he was elected Vice President of the National Association of GI Nurses. Wally has been keynote speaker at national conferences (GI) and has published articles and authored questions for the ANA GI Certification Exam.

Karen Cwalina loves mother/baby nursing and her co-workers. She chooses to work nights because she feels her “team” on nights is terrific. “We’re really there for each other and everyone shares the same high standards for patient care; we all love nursing.”

Wally says his greatest challenge in his new role has been to get physicians engaged in the process of patient safety. He enjoys being the advocate for quality care and removing barriers to ensure that quality and patient safety is the cornerstone of practice at Kaleida Health. Wally “absolutely loves being empowered to make changes to enhance patient care delivery.” Karen says that the two don’t discuss nursing a lot at home. She does admit that they each bring a different perspective, which enhances their overall understanding of the “larger” picture of professional nursing at Kaleida Health. Wally says it is helpful to be able to “bounce clinical practice issues off each other.”

Wally and Karen are very involved in Parish nursing at their home parish. They often take BP’s after mass and lecture on a variety of health care concerns. Karen is the night coordinator of the bereavement program for maternity at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. They both have a sensitivity for end of life issues; Wally helped Dr. Milch open the first Palliative Care Unit at Buffalo General Hospital in 1981.

When asked about working opposite shifts, Wally said it was a conscious choice while the couple raised their two daughters; “It allowed us to always have one parent with the girls. I was able to attend games and school activities.” Even though Lyndsay is 25 and a PharmD at Wegmans, and Chelsee is in her senior year of accounting at the University at Buffalo, Karen has no plans to change her shift. “I love what I do and the people I work with.”

When asked what is the best thing about Kaleida Health Nursing – the answer is identical, “the people.”

Wally’s most memorable patient…

When you add up all the days in my nursing career, including those as an “orderly” . . . (where and how did we ever come up with that title?) . . . nursing aide, student and finally RN, I have a number of patients that come to mind that could make my “Top Ten Most Memorable Patients” list.

What makes a patient “memorable?” Is it that patient who reduced you to tears as you watched them take their last breath, those with the most challenging diseases, the youngest, or the geriatric patient who didn’t have any family to take care of them and you were “their family.” As nurses, some of our most memorable life experiences are with patients and families.

Over the past thirty-five years I have had my fair share of those individual patients who both challenged and validated my professional nursing skills, taught me a few lessons or two and yes, even reduced me to tears! However, there is ONE who is set apart, and is the patient I remember as unforgettable. Click to read more (Nursing Connections Spring 2008 page8-9)(take to the rest of the article as below in italics)

This patient was a conglomerate of all of the above; one of my most challenging, geriatric, confused and the most “demanding” patients ever! I remember her most though, as one of the most loving. To me, she was affectionately known as, “My Dorothy.” Dorothy and I go way back, to when I was an orderly on the night shift in one of the local nursing homes while I was in nurse training.

It was a long night and Dorothy refused to keep her colostomy appliance on! I can still vividly remember that very first time she decided to pull it off, as she exclaimed, “This doesn’t belong to me!” I can remember thinking to myself, “Lord, why me?”, but still feeling empathetic for this confused patient. All the nurses told me that I had a very calming effect on Dorothy and she would only allow the nurses to re-apply her appliance if I was in the room as well, a true honor indeed, not bestowed on just anyone. These nurses were good!

On this particular night it was probably the eleventh or twelfth time she had removed her appliance. I went to get the LPN who was in charge on the unit that particular night. When she arrived in the room I was in awe. She skillfully and gently re-applied Dorothy’s appliance and even though I knew she must feel more than a little frustrated; it was a very busy night; she didn’t evidence any impatience. Her kindness, warmth, and calming presence made my heart skip a beat. I knew this was a special nurse.

On August 19th, 1979 I married that LPN. I truly believe, and my faith tells me that certain people come into our lives for special reasons. If it wasn’t for “My Dorothy”, I might have never been connected to the one who still makes my heart skip a few beats or two!
So you see my dear nursing colleagues, our patients do create memories for us in many different ways, ones that can indeed last a life time . . . mine did!

To “My Dorothy”, my heartfelt gratitude, and wherever you are, may you be at peace!

Karen’s most memorable patient…

Being a woman, a mother of two beautiful daughters and a Labor and Delivery Nurse as well, my heart literally aches for those who struggle with conception and/or delivery of healthy babies.

I have been blessed many times over, during my maternity career, spanning several decades, to not only witness but to be an integral part of so many deliveries of bundles of joy! Each and every one of them is so very special and precious. One in particular has left a lasting impression on my life.

Laura dealt with the heartbreaking diagnosis of infertility for more than ten years. Her journey took her through years of endless tests and exams, injections to treat infertility, and needless to say, countless prayers and the personal anguish that is part of the process. Over this decade, Laura’s determination and courage was an inspiration to the nursing staff that cared for her after her procedures. Laura’s husband decided to buy her something to keep her spirits up and gave her a tiny, white fluffy puppy. Within a few months of “mothering” the puppy, Laura became pregnant. Laura promptly declared that the puppy was their good luck charm! Click to read more (Nursing Connections Spring 2008 page 9) (take to the rest of the article as below in italics)

I had the honor of being Laura’s delivery room nurse. It was a privilege to be by her side throughout her induction and the ultimate delivery of her long awaited baby. I loved listening to the many stories about her journey as well as bonding with her throughout that night. A night that I will never forget!

After the delivery, both parents literally could not take their eyes off their precious little angel, a beautiful baby girl. To see the look in their eyes and the joy in their faces brought tears to my eyes as well. All I could think of was how honored I was to be a part of this miracle of life!

After her caesarean section she asked me to bring the baby into her room for all of her family to welcome into this world. In the baby’s bassinet laid a picture of their good luck charm, their tiny, white, fluffy puppy. Gathered around in her room were grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts. As I entered her room with the baby they all simultaneously joined in a chorus of “Happy Birthday to You.” Each and every one of us in that room that night were sobbing with tears of joy over the birth of this precious little infant.