When Kathy Ramirez was in nursing school at Washburn University, she found her calling the day she spent a clinical rotation in the operating room.
“I fell in love right away. I was in an eight-hour surgery and I was upset when it was time to leave. I knew that I wanted to start my nursing career in the OR.”
And Kathy got lucky enough to do just that, spending the first 18 years of her career working in the operating room, recovery and pre-op at LMH Health. She returned to school at Washburn to earn her master’s degree in nursing and transitioned to a new career as a nurse practitioner.
“I had a special interest in urology after working with one of the surgeons, and that’s where I landed. It’s been such a great fit. I love urology and helping people with all of their urologic issues.”
Kathy is passionate about caring for women. She spends half of her time at Sunflower Pelvic Health where she sees women living with incontinence, prolapse and other female specific issues.
“These are problems that impact your quality of life and get worse when you don’t treat them. It’s important to remember that you’re treating a person that could be your mom, your sister, or your best friend. The joy I get from helping people improve their quality of life is immense. That’s why I do this.”
Kathy wants her patients to know that while she can’t turn back the hands of time, she can help improve your symptoms. But it’s important to remember that it will take time.
“Don’t expect us to be able to alleviate all of your issues within one visit. Some of these issues may have been going on for years, and it may take us a while to identify the true issue and come up with a great plan for you. We want to help improve your quality of life.”
My philosophy of care is comprehensive and very individualized. What a 25-year-old male may want versus an 85-year-old female are very different things. I specifically ask patients about their goals and what I can improve most for them. That’s a really solid way to get people on board and involved in their own care.
- Kathy Ramirez, APRN
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• Sigma Theta Tau International
• Phi Kappa Phi
Washburn University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Washburn University
Master of Science in Nursing
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Biology and pre-nursing curriculum
LMH Surgery Department Perioperative Staff Nurse 1999 - 2017
I liked her very much. Very informative & compassionate.
This visit was probably the best I've ever experienced. She listened to me and incorporated my knowledge, thoughts and my feelings when determining the best plan of care. . While other providers may have allowed my to voice my ideas based on my knowledge and experiences, very infrequently did I feel like a true partner in my care.
Good
Good
Positive, felt heard, felt provider empathetic and wanted to help
She is very knowledgeable about my condition.
Supportive, helpful in offering choices for treatment and encourages patient decision making. Knowledgeable about my medical record and respectful of choices I make about treatment. I feel in control of my treatment under her excellent guidance.
Kathy and Jess Reed are amazing! It was a very personal appt, but I felt at ease the whole time. They are great listeners, displayed empathy and understanding, made me feel like I was the "norm" and offered great treatment plans. -exceptional care all the way around! Well ran clinic, two enthusiastic thumbs up!
Kathy is fantastic. She always listens and I always learn something new at my visits with her.
She was great. Listened to my concerns and provided confident information.
