Most people within the hospital setting may not think of nominating an OR nurse for a DAISY Award. You will not find stories from patients singing the praises of a “wonderful and kind nurse I will never forget” because our patients will always forget us. Nonetheless, RN’s in the operating room work with the same skills, compassion and integrity as we see in other departments within the hospital. I can recall many such stories, but today I would like to tell this one.

Michelle McGee was the circulator in an OR room where a C-section was being performed. The case was a difficult procedure using 80 lap sponges. The surgeons were ready to close the wound. Michelle and the scrub technician, Jennifer Seaman, began conducting a sponge count according to policy. The count was short by one lap sponge. The surgeons conducted a methodical wound exam reporting no sponge had been found. Although the surgeons were eager to close, Michelle and Jennifer showed their commitment to excellence, followed the policy and did not allow final closure. Upon two more methodical wound exams the lap sponge was found inside the patient. Retained objects have many adverse outcomes to our patients such as infections, need for emergency surgeries, pain and even death.

Even though our operating room patients are neither awake nor aware of the care they are receiving, Michelle chose to demonstrate compassionate care toward her patient. She refused to let even the possibility of harm come to her patient. Michelle is a champion of evidence based practice in the OR as a member of the SPT. Those who know Michelle realize this was not an isolated act, but rather a snapshot in the midst of an exemplary service to the patients of Salem Health.