Whether volunteering in the Rainforest Conservatory at Fort Worth Botanic Garden or being a charge nurse in the cardiac telemetry unit at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth, Luke Kern is a nurturer. He cares for plants and he cares for people, bringing his heart into whatever he does.
He’s been a registered nurse for a decade and with Texas Health for almost two years. Telemetry interested him because of its diverse patient population; he knew he could care for many types of people and thus learn so much. He has found his calling in cardiology, where – between his duties as charge nurse – he can calm patients who are afraid, answer their questions and, once in a while, even make them animals out of towels.
That’s an art he learned years ago by watching YouTube videos. And while that terrycloth trick isn’t as much a part of his workplace repertoire as it was when he worked at a rehabilitation center, well, sometimes a situation just calls for a towel animal.
As a floor nurse, Luke saw his primary role as being an advocate for each of his patients. “I tried to make them feel comfortable and know that I cared about them,” he said, “which I believe is essential to healing.”
That care continues in his role as charge nurse – amplified because it now also includes his staff. He makes sure they feel supported, advocating for them when necessary.
For his love for patients and fellow nurses, and his dedication to Texas Health, Luke received the hospital’s Promise Maker award in 2022 and, more recently, the Promise Praise Pin.
What did you want to be when you grew up, and how did you ultimately choose your career?
I wanted to own my own plant nursery. But that changed when I was 12 and my grandmother died. I didn’t understand what had happened, and neither did the doctors in our small Kansas town. My grandfather was very distraught, and I’d stay with him when I got home from school to keep him company and to take care of him.
I found I was good at that, and I enjoyed the feeling I got from helping others. That led to me becoming a certified nursing assistant, which I did for seven years before becoming a registered nurse 10 years ago. My grandfather passed away two years ago. He was very proud of me, and always encouraged me to keep growing.
No two days in healthcare are ever alike, but what is a typical shift like?
Every morning, I get patient reports from the night charge nurse. Depending on what they say, I check on patients who might need my attention, help the nurses speak with doctors, or call the critical care clinician with any issues. I also do a safety/staffing call, and we then have a meeting with case managers and nurses to discuss barriers to discharge. Later in the afternoon, we have a staff meeting.
Between those, I help nurses with anything they need, making sure patients assigned to our unit are appropriate for our care. I then assign those patients to nurses. If we’re short-staffed, I take on patients. Conflict management – between staff, between family members and staff, between patients and staff – plays a big role in my day as well.
What is your favorite part of your job, and what is the biggest challenge?
My favorite part of my job has always been the ability to help people. Hearing a “thank you” at the end of the day is awesome. The biggest challenge is when multiple problems happen at once and I need to choose which to attend to first. When that happens, I feel as if I’m being pulled in a million directions. But after getting through those days, you feel pretty good that you were able to help everyone.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I love to bake and used to sell cakes when I was in nursing school.
How do you do your life’s best work at Texas Health?
I have worked in many healthcare environments, and I have never been as recognized for my work as I have at Texas Health Southwest, which is truly an honor. I feel supported by my management team whenever I have a question. Plus, the nurses I work with are always willing to help each other. When that happens, it encourages you even more to want to be the best you can be.
