Kristin M. – "Passionate"

This is Kristin’s story. Her love for children and desire to see them at home with their family where they can receive the care they need and live a quality life is what led her to this career.

Kristin is the Pediatric Director of Healthcare Services for Interim HealthCare in Pittsburgh where she has been serving the home health needs of children and their families since 1996. Her passion to care for others was instilled early in life. Kristin comes from a family with a medical background. Her father was a veterinarian who earned his doctorate in endocrinology and was a pioneer of in vitro fertilization, and her mother was a dental hygienist. Their heart to help others through their professional pursuits influenced Kristin and her sisters to do the same.

Inspired to make a difference, Kristin went to nursing school to pursue a career in pediatric care. After graduation, she began working as a nurse for Children’s Seashore House, a long-term care rehabilitation facility. A year later, she got married and moved to Pittsburgh where she joined Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and worked in infant medical care for five years. In 1996 she began doing per diem pediatric visits and in 1997, she joined Interim HealthCare full-time as a Pediatric Visit Nurse. Later, she transitioned to Quality Assurance for 10 years and helped open two new branches. In 2009, Kristin returned to pediatrics as a Supervisor and was later promoted to Pediatric Director.

As she reflects back on 30 years of nursing, she’s seen a lot of things come full circle. “With children, you never really know what happens after you provide acute care,” said Kristin. But a recent experience gave her a glimpse into the life of a little girl she cared for back in the 90’s. At the time, she was very sick and needed a liver transplant. A few years later, she reconnected with her as a visit nurse and then again as a teenager while covering for another visit nurse. When Kristin saw her, she was amazed. She had received a liver transplant, graduated from high school and was now a grown woman. It felt like it happened for a reason, so Kristin could see the other side of things and know that she had gotten better. These are the experiences that have molded Kristin into the nurse she is today and inspire her to press on until every child who needs care at home can receive it.

“No child should have to live in a long-term care facility; they belong at home with their family,” said Kristin. This is the conviction that motivates her to do what she can to make that happen. And, it is the heart of Interim HealthCare as well. The reason many children are not able to go home is due to a nursing shortage. As a company, they are doing everything they can to combat these challenges and provide solutions—from partnering with other agencies to ensure ample staffing and recruiting nursing graduates to home healthcare to training new nurses in pediatric care.

A mother of five, Kristin’s passion to care for children has made her an extraordinary nurse and leader in Interim HealthCare’s organization. She leads by example and is committed to supporting those on the front line so they can take excellent care of the children who need them. There is no doubt, Kristin is made for this!