How one nurse chose labor and delivery

As a young child, Katie Beck, Director, Women’s and Children’s Services, developed an interest in nursing after seeing the compassion of the nurses who cared for her great-grandfather who had a long battle with cancer. “When I first started nursing school, I thought I would work with the geriatric population,” said Katie. After graduation, she worked in the ICU at Lewis Gale Medical Center and loved everything about it. For the next two years, Katie traveled as an ICU nurse before returning to her hometown and family in Fairfax County.

In 2017, Katie transitioned from ICU to labor and delivery nursing at Reston Hospital Center. “It was after the birth of my first son, that I felt an immediate draw to labor and delivery. “It was life changing,” she said. “It is a beautiful place to work, and it provides acuity, critical thinking, and a way to touch families in the most meaningful way,” said Katie.

Once she had settled into her role as a L&D nurse, she started accepting charge nurse responsibilities. Katie talked to her manager and director about her career goals and aspirations to become a nurse leader. Soon thereafter, she accepted a clinical nurse coordinator, (CNC) position.

“As a CNC, I was able to communicate with physicians and nurses on a daily basis. There was a certain amount of trust in the role that really helped me grow,” she said! It was during that time that Katie decided to pursue a masters degree in nursing and chose the Galen School of Nursing where she earned her MSN in two years. “The Galen School of nursing was great,” she said. “It was manageable and affordable,” she said.

Katie’s nursing career continued to flourish. She accepted the position as the labor and lelivery manager at Reston and then in December 2023, Katie became the director of women’s and children’s at StoneSprings.

“Labor and Delivery nursing provides an opportunity to care for patients and their families in their most vulnerable times and I have strived to make a positive impact with every touch,” she said.

“In my leadership role, I love watching my team flourish,” said Katie. “Nothing makes me happier than to see our patients recognize their nurse for their compassion and dedication to providing the best care possible,” she said.