One of Kennewick General Hospital’s veteran nurses, Karen Engel, RN, C, will share her expertise at the Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society’s (PENS) national conference. Engel, who is in her 21st year working at Kennewick General, specializes in pediatric growth issues and diabetes.
Thousands who attend this year’s national convention will have the opportunity to hear Karen’s workshop designed to assist health care professionals in recognizing the signs and symptoms of life-threatening hypoglycemia in the presence of severe growth hormone deficiency. She will discuss specific evaluation, diagnostic tests, treatment and nursing implications with the audience.
Karen also works part time with Dr. Nikom Wannarachue, the area’s only Pediatric Endocrinology specialist. “Severe growth hormone deficiency often results in chronic low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Children with this problem can lose consciousness and have convulsions…and they don’t respond to conventional therapy,” notes Engel. “I met a young man who was in and out of emergency rooms for years with classic hypoglycemic symptoms. Relief from treatment never lasted long. He was referred to Dr. Wannarachue to evaluate the cause of his hypoglycemia. The cause was determined to be severe growth hormone deficiency. Now that they know the root of the symptoms, they can control them and he is a much healthier child.”
Kathy Rodriguez, Director of Pediatric Services at KGH shares, “We are all very proud to have a nurse of Karen’s caliber on our pediatric team. She has a wealth of experience and is totally committed to providing exceptional pediatric care.” Engel explains that, “If there’s just one thing those who attend the conference to take away from my presentation, I hope it’s the understanding that various endocrinology testing and research can be done at the local hospital level. Not all children need to be sent to a university setting.” She adds, “Getting the care they need close to home is so much easier on both the patient and their family.”
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