Practitioner nominated for state award

A St. Luke Hospital nurse is one of 21 candidates nominated for Kansas Hospital Association’s Health Care Worker of the Year award.

Advanced practitioner Karen Larsen, who also is assistant deputy coroner for Marion County, is a longtime employee of St. Luke.

She directs St. Luke’s emergency department, where she is the main provider, and works with patients on the medical floor. She sometimes works in St. Luke Clinic as well.

Larsen also manages staff education and works in a wound care clinic.

Part of her duties is to treat patients awaiting transfer to larger hospitals.

In that role, she offers guidance to other nurses and helps them cope.

Kansas Hospital Association will present the award Sept. 8 in Overland Park.