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Karla Anderson |
Anderson worked at the medical center for 33 years.
“Karla was an icon of nursing,” said Sandy Crites, who manages the adult intensive care unit in University Tower. “She worked in the AICU for 33 years, beginning in 1976. During that time, she exemplified what it means to be a nurse. She was an educator, mentor and friend to other nurses.
“As for patients, she was their biggest advocate. She worked hard to always see the best in situations — even difficult ones. Karla had a big heart and always treated her patients as family.”
As a nurse myself, I always thought that Karla gave the kind of care that I would want for myself or my family. Her example certainly taught me alot and inspired me to work harder for the patient.
Karla was my friend and a former nursing colleague. As a new graduate nurse, Karla took me under her wing and mentored and nurtured me. Karla has always exemplfied the nurse I would want to care for me. The nursing profession has lost a great role model.
Karla was not only a role model for nurses but for all health professionals. She was the consummate patient advocate and in a motherly way made sure that everyone treated her patients like they were one of their own family. She made everyone on the ICU team perform in the most caring manner possible. Her smile and her counsel will be greatly missed.
She was a wonderful person. It is a tragedy.
I had the privilege of knowing & working with Karla for over 30 years. You could not have met a kinder, more compassionate person and couple than she & Andy. They represented the hard working ethics of the midwest. They have touched so many of us that it is hard to let them go, but let them go we must. They will be remembered fondly by those they have touch and we can consider ourselves blessed to have known them for the short time that they were with us. The AICU will never be the same & whenever I think of or look at an IABP many of us will think fondly of our dear friend Karla!
Karla was my mentor years ago in ICU, we always had a saying if we or a family member ever woke up in ICU we would want to look up and see Karla taking care of us. She was the best!! and was beautiful both inside and out.
Kathi Healey