For Kathleen Dwy, RN, nursing is more than just a job — it’s a calling. As the assistant nurse manager of the Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Westchester Medical Center, she finds herself at the center of life’s most critical moments, guiding patients and their families through some of their most challenging days.
Westchester Medical Center is a Level I trauma center, meaning it handles the most severe and complex cases in the region.
‘We care for highly acute trauma patients. Hospitals around Westchester and the region transfer their most complex cases to us,” Dwy explains.
Her role is one of constant multitasking, balancing patient care with leadership responsibilities. She acts as a nurse, a leader, an educator, and the ‘mom” when needed. Nursing comes with high pressure and stress, Dwy says. But knowing you can make a difference in people’s lives, bring them comfort or a little bit of peace, helps her get through challenging and long days in the hospital.
Dwy didn’t always know that nursing or healthcare was her path. Once she began studying nursing, she realized there was no other career for her. She graduated first in her class from the University of Mount Saint Vincent.
‘I am a caregiver,” she says. ‘Taking care of others is one of the things that makes me feel whole.”
Like many in the healthcare field, she acknowledges the challenges of the profession. The workload can be heavy and it’s difficult to balance patients when you want to give every person ample attention, she says. However, she credits her team of coworkers for helping her handle the emotional burdens of the job.
‘We cry with each other on the bad days and laugh on the good days,” Dwy says.
Despite the challenges, her passion for nursing remains unwavering. She recalls a particularly moving experience when two former trauma patients spoke at a symposium.
‘I wasn’t sure they would survive, and there they were, sharing their stories and expressing gratitude for the doctors and nurses who saved their lives,” she says. ‘They called us their heroes, but the truth is, they are my heroes. Their strength and determination inspire me.”
For those considering a career in nursing, Dwy offers honest and heartfelt advice. She recognizes that it is a rewarding and demanding profession. She says it takes compassion, commitment, and an ability to be extremely adaptable. She also emphasizes the importance of empathy. ‘It’s easy to lose the human piece of it in the dayto-day, but empathy is what makes a great nurse.”
A career in healthcare might be right for you if:
- You’re strongly motivated by empathy and compassion.
- You don’t mind working long and potentially irregular hours.
- You’re good at communicating with people and putting them at ease.
- You’re motivated to keep yourself healthy, e.g. by exercising regularly and eating well. To care for others, you need to be in good shape yourself.
- You can multi-task and have strong problem-solving skills.
Some Key Westchester Employers
- Empress EMS
- Montefiore
- Northwell Health
- Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth)
- White Plains Hospital
Westchester-Based Nursing Programs
Related: A Look Into the Construction Industry in Westchester County
