Gifted Spotlight: Keith Streeter, RN

We are always sharing the stories of our Gifted Healthcare nurses, and today we are featuring Keith Streeter, RN in our Gifted Spotlight series. 

Keith is currently working as a critical care nurse in Broussard, Louisiana on his first contract with Gifted Healthcare after 27 years as a nurse. Read on to hear about what motivates Keith in this field and how he got to where he is today.  

Early Career 

Keith hails from a military lineage, with a Marine Corps veteran for a grandfather and a Navy veteran as his father. The military has always called to him, and he envisioned himself following that path. His goal was to serve the country and assist those in need, particularly the sick and injured.

Discovering military nursing provided Keith with the perfect opportunity to serve his nation while helping others. At the age of 20, he embarked on a an academic journey through military nursing. He went to Combat Medic School and LPN training at the Army's Academy of Allied Health Sciences. His academic life eventually landed him a placement at William Beaumont Hospital in El Paso, Texas.

As a military nurse, Keith found his calling in tending to the wounded and critically ill during humanitarian and joint task force missions. It was an unwavering commitment driven by a deep desire to assist people in their most trying times.

Keith succinctly summarized his path: "Choosing the military route allowed me to complete vocational nursing school, launch my nursing career, and serve my country while aiding those in need. It felt like the obvious choice."

Keith's journey continued as he earned his bachelor's degree in 2005 from Southern University School of Nursing in Baton Rouge, becoming an RN. In 2013, he achieved board certification in critical care.

Inside the Critical Care Unit 

Today, Keith works in a Critical Care unit in Louisiana through Gifted Healthcare. He is continuously amazed at the care his unit is able to provide to patients, often saving their lives. The Critical Care Unit challenges Keith’s problem-solving skills, and he is grateful for the challenge.  

Each patient’s care plan is different. Nurses never know how patients will respond to certain therapies provided and a patient’s condition could be augmented with just a few small clinical decisions. Keith loves the complexity of finding individual solutions to generate positive patient outcomes.  

Within Keith’s memory, one patient stands out, and the story is a reminder of why he works so hard to bring the best care and treatment to all patients.  

“There is one patient I recall that came in after going into cardiac arrest and passing out on his front yard,” said Keith. “He had a massive blockage in his left main carotid artery and needed to be resuscitated. We were able to go in to remove the clot and restore blood flow but then had to work quickly to cool his body down.” 

“What amazed me, is he suffered through all of that and woke up completely cognitively intact. He walked right out of the hospital, refusing to leave in a wheelchair, and that moment makes everything worth it. To be a part of that really warmed my heart.”  

Keith’s Motivation 

Keith has used his patients’ stories as reminders of why everything he does matters. He brings a kind spirit to each patient’s bedside, and it shows, as one patient recently submitted this Spirit Gram to thank Keith for his amazing care. His genuine compassion and care is why he makes such an exemplar Gifted Healthcare clinician.

“Keith has a spirit of excellence, and he takes pride in all tasks and job duties that are performed. He’s also knowledgeable and courteous.” 

Keith often asks himself throughout his shifts, “the work you are doing, what is the message it is sending? What are you trying to accomplish?” Then, he reminds himself that what matters most is taking care of those that cannot look out for themselves.  

The Ideal Gifted Healthcare Nurse 

We asked Keith for his opinion on the ideal qualities of a nurse, and he had a heart-warming response. 

“Love for humankind and capacity to be your patient’s advocate. Above all, you have to have that. Care is what we are there for. We are in a caregiver role, and we have to be honest with ourselves, our colleagues, our patients and challenge each other to do the best job we can.” 

“Someday, I will be the patient. At some point, it happens to everybody, and so it truly is important to me to fight for my patients and look out for them because I would want the same done for me or one of my loved ones.” 

“We touch people’s lives in such an important way, even by just doing the little things.” 

What’s Next?  

At this time, Keith recently finished his first contract with Gifted Healthcare and loved how his flexible schedule provides him with the opportunity to spend more time with his children. He is currently working his second contract with Gifted Healthcare in Houma, LA. 

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