Proud of the Positive Impact We’ve Made
Kim Haring is an integral part of MENTOR Maryland’s clinical team. She has dedicated her career to helping children with complex medical challenges and brings her passion for caring and experience in pediatric nursing to MENTOR Maryland’s Medically Fragile Foster Care program. In her role as nurse supervisor, she works to ensure that children with complex medical conditions receive personalized services and that foster parents are equipped with the skills needed to support the children in their care. We recently spoke with Kim about her experience in pediatric nursing.
How did you start your career in nursing?
I was interested in being in a health-related field, and it was through my volunteer work at a local hospital that I knew I wanted to be a nurse. After graduating with a degree in nursing from Johns Hopkins, I worked at Washington Pediatric Hospital. Some of the children there with serious medical needs were placed with MENTOR Maryland after being discharged because they didn’t have homes to go to or because they didn’t have the specialized supports they needed at home. In MENTOR Maryland’s Medically Fragile Foster Care program, children receive personalized medical care from specially trained foster parents in a loving home. I admired the work they did and wanted to be part of it. I’ve been with MENTOR Maryland for 15 years and am proud of the positive impact we’ve made.
What makes pediatric nursing a rewarding field?
Through my work in the Medically Fragile Foster Care program, I’ve seen the amazing difference good medical care and a loving family can have on a child. I’ve worked with toddlers who can’t even sit up by themselves when they first come to us. Within a short amount of time, they’re walking, talking, or making other significant strides all because they were placed in a loving home with the right medical care. I’ve helped kids reunify with their biological families after working with the parents on how to provide their children with specialized supports. And I’ve seen children find forever families when their foster parents adopt them. A lot of kids achieve permanency through our program, which is an important goal.
What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a nurse?
Always keep learning because each individual is different. In our program, we’ll see kids facing a range of challenges. They may have ventilators, feeding tubes, cerebral palsy, pre-natal drug exposure, seizure disorders, HIV/AIDS, or significant developmental delays. You have to know how to support a range of complex diagnoses. That’s why my team regularly participates in rigorous trainings and continuing education opportunities. We’re continually seeking ways to improve our high-quality services for the benefit of the individuals we support.
To learn more about nursing jobs and other opportunities at MENTOR Maryland, visit our career page.