She Began in 1999 as a Junior Volunteer and Stayed
When Katie Torres, M.S.N., R.N., ONC, dissected a frog in the seventh grade, she actually liked it so much she went on to help the next year’s class with it. That was when, at 14, it all clicked: Her career would involve both science and helping people.
The next year, in 1999, she started as a junior volunteer in Labor & Delivery at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford.
“I became obsessed and would spend hours every week volunteering with patients in labor,” Torres said. “I realized then that I wanted to be a nurse.”
She continued volunteering until she graduated from high school in 2003 and was hired as a PRN patient care technician (PCT) in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Texas Health HEB. She worked through college PRN and went back to full time after she graduated. Torres’ career flourished and while she worked at other hospitals in the system, she never left Texas Health.
Today, she’s Obstetrics-Gynecology manager at Texas Health HEB, back where she began.
“Katie has been an outstanding addition to the Women’s and Infants team at Texas Health HEB,” said Amy McCarthy, D.N.P., RNC-MNN, NE-BC, director, Women, Infants & Oncology, at the hospital. “Her energy and enthusiasm are contagious and the culture on her unit reflects her steadfast commitment to excellence. It’s always rewarding to watch your leaders grow in their experiences and gain confidence – Katie is no exception and I know her success will continue here at Texas Health!”
Keep reading to learn more about Torres’ journey, in her own words:
How have your Texas Health career and your education continued since that first year as a junior volunteer?
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology at Oklahoma University (OU), then my Bachelor of Science in nursing through the Texas Health-University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Academic Partnership. Most recently, I obtained my Master of Science in nursing administration, also from UTA.
While I was at OU, I would come home every few months to work a weekend and would work full-time hours over all school breaks and summers. I never went on a fun spring break trip in college because I spent them all working at the hospital.
Through the years, I’ve worked at Springwood Behavioral Health Center as a PCT and recreational therapist; Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth as a PCT on the orthopedic/neurosurgical floor, later on that floor as an R.N., and as an R.N. supervisor in orthopedics; Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth as an R.N., on medical/surgical -telemetry; and back to Texas Health HEB as an R.N., OB-GYN supervisor and now OB-GYN manager.
What does a typical workday look like?
Hardly any day is the same, and I love it. I like the excitement of new challenges and opportunities. As the manager for OB-GYN at Texas Health HEB, my role is to support the team for high-quality, safe and efficient care delivery. Having worked night shift for nine years, I routinely work past 7 p.m. because building strong relationships with day and night shifts is a priority.
What’s your favorite part of your job, and what is the biggest challenge?
I love being able to help others develop, grow and succeed, both as a team and as individuals. The biggest challenge in my job is setting limits for myself. I love being involved and am interested in every committee and council available. I am also a wife and a mother to two amazing children, so I must be selective, as my time is finite. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance requires a conscious effort to protect my mental and emotional well-being.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I took three semesters of Cherokee as my foreign language at the University of Oklahoma – Boomer Sooner!
What are some of the ways you provide excellent care, supporting Texas Health’s Culture of Excellence?
Healthcare is dynamic and unpredictable, so organization is key to success. Orderly systems increase efficiency and reduce waste. Studies have shown that an attractive workplace can also boost productivity. An organized environment and an aesthetically pleasing space are not mutually exclusive, however. I try to create systematic approaches that are fun, with binder covers, pretty office supplies, and touches of gold everywhere. Being professional doesn’t have to be boring. It can be beautiful.
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