I would like to tell you about an unsung hero we have working here at Mayo Hospital in La Crosse. I am talking about Borislav Yankov, an ICU registered nurse known to everyone as Boris. He wears many hats, taking on the roles of critical care bedside nurse, charge nurse, and Rapid Response nurse.
As a bedside nurse, he cares for not only his patient but also that patient's family. I have seen Boris talk with patients who are in respiratory distress, his quiet and peaceful manner a calming presence to one who is struggling to breathe. I have seen him comforting family members, with empathy and with information, keeping them updated and assuaging their fears.
As a charge nurse, he knows the strengths of his fellow nurses, assigning each patient to the nurse that is best suited for his/her care. He mentors new nurses, always encouraging, teaching, and leading by example. He coordinates care and transfers with the EICU providers and nurses. Boris is always supportive of others, whether it is the respiratory therapist, the lab technician or the bedside nurse.
But the role in which he best excels is that of Rapid Response Nurse (RR Nurse). As the RR Nurse, Boris rounds on all hospital floors several times a night, speaking with the floor nurses about patients that they are concerned about. He will assess these patients as needed and frequently consults with the Night Hospitalist and me about their conditions. I really appreciate the time that Boris takes to seek me out and discuss a case with me, adding the perspective of a seasoned ICU nurse, bringing up points and suggestions that I may not have thought of. He has even taken the time to look up and forward Grand Round lectures to me on topics we have discussed in passing. He is the first one on the scene of an RRT or a Medical Emergency. I have seen his skill and knowledge of emergency procedures and medications, along with his leadership ability set the tone for a well-run code. And at the end of the event, he makes sure that each team member has a say in how things went and what could be done better the next time.
I can't be prouder to call Boris my colleague and my friend. We will never know how many coworkers he has encouraged, lives he has saved and people he has inspired during his time with Mayo Health Systems.