Staff Spotlight: Katie Lesikar

Katie Lesikar is a current Lactation Consultant in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and a former Texas Christian University Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship participant. Last month, she was awarded the Impact Award by the TCU EBP Fellowship program for the sustainment and ongoing positive impact of the work she completed during the program. Continue reading to learn more about the Impact Award and Katie’s impressive work.

1. For those who might not have heard of the TCU EBP Fellowship Impact Award, how would you describe it?

“The TCU EBP Fellowship Impact Award recognizes a graduate whose evidence-based practice (EBP) project has made a lasting impact on patient care. The award focuses on projects that have been ‘hardwired’ within the practice setting and are sustained for over one year from the initial implementation.”

2. You were nominated for this award based on work you completed as a former TCU EBP Fellowship program participant. Can you tell us about the project you implemented during the program? What inspired you to do the project?

“My original plan for my EBP project was to focus on teambuilding in the NICU. However, when COVID hit in the middle of my project year, I had to pivot because of social distancing requirements.

Years earlier, our unit had transitioned from a nursery setting to private rooms. I had noticed that some of the education that used to happen naturally, with more experienced nurses passing along knowledge to newer nurses, wasn't happening as organically anymore due to being separated in the private rooms. Our unit also cares for babies with a wide variety of diagnoses, including some pretty rare conditions, so you might have a patient with a diagnosis you haven't seen in a while.

In 2020, 46% of our NICU nurses had less than five years of experience, so I saw an opportunity to help fill some of those educational gaps. That led to the creation of Weekly Wonders, which are short, one-page educational handouts designed to reinforce best practices, labs, policies, and procedures. My goal was to make evidence-based education easy to access and use, while helping nurses feel more confident in the care they provide at the bedside.”

3. Sustainment is sometimes the hardest part of implementing a project. What do you think contributed to the successful sustainment of your work?

“Honestly, I think the initial success came down to the time put into them, meeting a real need, and being intentional about making them ONLY one page, visually appealing, and concise. I spent hundreds of hours researching and creating Weekly Wonders during the first couple of years, almost entirely on my own.

They were initially sent only to nursing staff, but other NICU team members heard about them and asked to receive them, too, because they wanted to learn from them. I saved a folder of many emails from staff members sharing how a Weekly Wonder had helped them learn something new or reinforce something they already knew. That feedback was a huge motivation to keep going!

For long-term success, I'm really grateful that I was able to transition the project to a committee under our NICU Education Committee. It just wasn't sustainable for me to keep creating them all myself. Now, creating a Weekly Wonder is a recognized way to earn points toward our Professional Development Program (PDP), which encourages more staff to get involved. I love that it gives others an opportunity to contribute to helping all of us provide the best care possible for our sweet babies.

Having the Weekly Wonders available on our NICU Team Site has also been a big part of sustaining the project. Staff can easily find them whenever they need them, and the information can be updated as needed.”

4. What part of the project has been the most meaningful to you?

“As an identical twin who was born prematurely and spent my first few weeks of life, along with my sister, in the NICU on a ventilator, I am incredibly grateful for the care we received all those years ago. I feel so blessed that the Lord allowed me to get my dream job straight out of nursing school and that I get to give back to other families in the same way we were blessed as newborns.

I never would have imagined enjoying an education role because bedside care is still my favorite! But I really loved having the opportunity to make an impact beyond just the patients I cared for on a particular day.”

5. What challenges did you experience while implementing and sustaining the project? How did you overcome them?

“One of the biggest challenges was finding other people who were willing and able to commit the time needed to create new Weekly Wonders. They take a lot of research and effort to put together, even though the final product is short and simple to read.

Initially, I did most of the work myself, but I knew that wasn't going to be sustainable long term. We began recruiting staff through routine management emails, and creating a Weekly Wonder became an opportunity for staff to earn points toward their PDP. Eventually, a committee was formed, and I was able to hand off both the creation and distribution of the Weekly Wonders to other NICU staff.

I think that ease of use and shared ownership have been a big part of why it has continued to be successful.”

6. The 2026–2027 TCU EBP Fellows started their program on September 30th. What advice would you give them as they begin this journey?

“My advice would be similar to what I'd tell any new nurse: be flexible when you need to be, and don't be afraid to ask for help! My original project ended up looking very different from what I had planned, but that pivot led me to something that has made a lasting impact. Use your resources, ask questions, and learn from the people around you who have more experience. You don't have to figure everything out on your own!”

7. And lastly, would you rather sing instead of speak or dance instead of walk (for one day)? Why?

“I would rather sing instead of speak for a day… but only if I had a good voice! HA! I love singing! My twin sister and I spent hours of our childhood making up dances so we could be country music stars, but we eventually realized we weren't quite as talented as we thought when our mom would turn up the radio to drown us out! But it's okay! We're good at other things!!!”