UP Health System – Portage Heroes | Brandy Kari, RN, BSN

What is your role at UP Health System – Portage?

I am the Employee Health Nurse and Clinical Educator, Daisy Program Coordinator, and Trumont RN Resident Program Coordinator.

What was your inspiration for getting into healthcare?

I had surgery for a birth defect at Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor as an infant and returned there frequently throughout my childhood, as did my younger brother. I always felt the doctors and nurses caring for me were heroes.

Also, both my mom and grandma completed nursing degrees when I was in high school and watching them and listening to them study definitely encouraged me. I became a nurse’s aide in high school and felt it suited me.

What’s a typical day like for you? What is it like working in this field?

As the employee health nurse, I see all of the new hires at the hospital for their health screening and follow-up with them regarding the hospital’s employee health policies. I also assist employees with their medical leaves and manage those leaves. Additionally, I assist employees if they have a work-related injury or exposure with workers' compensation and report to OSHA. In the fall I will be organizing flu shot clinics.

As the clinical educator, I conduct the new hire clinical orientation days for all new clinical staff and nursing students, organize yearly and on-going nursing education and competencies, and update new quality initiatives pertaining to nursing. I also coordinate the Trumont RN Resident Program for new graduate RNs and organize The DAISY Foundation Award for nurses who are recognized for exemplary care by patients, family or peers.     

A typical day for me floats between these two roles as I address individual needs of employees as they come up and plan clinical education needs. I attend some of the quality and leadership meetings to stay involved and knowledgeable about current quality and patient safety goals and initiatives. I am also involved with OSHA reporting and some illness tracking for the facility.

How long have you been employed here? Have you always been in the same position?

I just celebrated my 25th year working for Portage! My first position was night shift ICU on the 6th floor of the old Portage View. Prior to that I worked at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay in a Med-Surg ICU.  

For many years I worked part-time in ICU/Med-Surg/OB. Then, I worked in ACU/Peri-op for about five years before moving to my new role in Employee Health/Education.

What are some of the big changes you have experienced in this position?

I can’t speak to the changes in my current position, but nursing as a whole has changed so much in the last 26 years! The use of artificial intelligence in the acute care/inpatient setting to assist with patient safety is such an asset to the work of inpatient staff and I’m happy it is evolving. Also, there are so many more assistive devices to take the physical strain off caregivers and providers in the hospital. That can reduce work-related and overuse injuries, so I guess that pertains to my new position in employee health and workers' compensation.

What are some of your interests outside of work? What is your favorite local gem?

Besides taxiing my son to hockey practice or my husband and I cheering him on in whatever sport is in season, I am usually getting outdoors! Gardening, hiking with my dog, beach-going, sauna-swims at the cottage and campfires are the highlight. I’m blessed to have two grown daughters and a sister who join me in many adventures that usually end up by Lake Superior or taking in the beauty of it.

What do you enjoy most about working at UPHS – Portage?

At this point, I guess I’d say it’s home. I’ve been blessed to get to know and work with so many wonderful, dedicated people over the years. I’m impressed with how the employees from all departments and professions work together to take care of our community.