They’re the steady hands in the storm — from keeping the field sterile to catching every rise and fall of a heartbeat.
It is at the Intensive Care or High Dependency Unit where every heartbeat counts, every second is the difference between life and death.
The stakes are so high that we often assume doctors in the ICU are responsible for a patient’s care. But doctors operate in a team comprising critical care nurses who work around the clock, monitoring vitals and progress.
One such nurse is Faith Daniels, a Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) nurse who has worked at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) since 2020.
With specialised hands-on experience, Faith has developed the expertise needed to assist in a range of heart procedures.
I must make sure the laboratories are ready to receive patients
“A Cath Lab nurse is a highly skilled professional trained to support cardiologists, interventional radiologists and neurosurgeons,” she explains.
Her day begins early. By 7am, Faith is already preparing her department, checking the theatre list, ensuring the necessary labs and documentation are in order, and confirming that all support teams are present. Coordination and precision are crucial in this role.
“We receive patients from different departments every day. I must make sure my desk is in order, the laboratories are ready to receive patients, and that the entire procedure team is in place,” she says.
From maintaining a sterile field to monitoring vital signs and ensuring proper documentation, Faith is the thread that holds the operation together.
She specialised as a critical care nurse, was posted to a cardiac ICU
“In our lab, we deal with cardiac cases, neurovascular procedures and interventional radiology. My primary responsibility is to ensure the patient’s vitals are stable, support the surgeons, and provide all the necessary equipment during the procedure,” she adds.
So, what inspired Faith to pursue this path?
Her journey began in general nursing school. Later, she specialised as a critical care nurse and was posted to a cardiac ICU. It was there she discovered her passion for cardiac care and was drawn to the dynamic, life-saving environment of the Cath Lab.
But working in the Cath Lab isn’t for the faint of heart.
Sometimes, it means losing a limb, that’s the hardest part.
“You deal with heart attack patients, stroke victims, people who need interventions in the blink of an eye,” she shares.
“It’s high stress. If a procedure isn’t done at the right time, you could lose the patient. Sometimes, it means losing a limb. That’s the hardest part.”
Some days are marked by life lost, but others are celebrated with lives saved; moments of pure triumph that stay with her long after the shift ends.
“One of my most memorable cases was a patient who came in with a complete heart block. As soon as we placed him on the table, he went into asystole (no heartbeat). We had to resuscitate him and place a temporary pacemaker. Later, a permanent one was implanted, and he left the lab smiling, vitally stable.”
Behind every heartbeat is a story, I’m proud to be part of those stories
Faith’s work may often take place behind the closed doors of the Cath lab, but her impact is felt in every heart that leaves the ward beating stronger than it arrived.
“Behind every heartbeat is a story,” she says, “and I’m proud to be part of those stories.”
Nurses like Faith Daniel are the unsung heroes of Kenya’s healthcare system. Their skill, dedication and compassion quietly drive life-saving care forward, even when the world isn’t watching.
In wards, ICUs, theatres or labs, they remain the steady hands and compassionate hearts that keep critical patients alive.
