Robert Messenger
January 2018
Robert
Messenger
,
RN, CPN
PRN/Supplemental Nursing
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

Bob has been part of the PRN/Supplemental Nurse pool for about 15 years. This is something that does not seem to faze Bob. He goes wherever he is assigned and always with a smile on his face and a spark in his step. He cares so much about the patients he takes care of, as well as his fellow nurses. Everyone knows Bob and is always excited to have him in their unit for that shift. He is witty and creative. I recall one particular occasion recently where Bob took the time with a new nurse on orientation who was particularly nervous when it came to tracheostomy care. Bob took the time to get a spare trach and put the trach in the nurses' hands. He said, "touch it and feel it and see it." He was able to make her feel comfortable with it by taking the time for her to touch and see that it really wasn't anything to be nervous about. He took about 15-20 minutes to teach her all about the care of a person with a trach, from changing trach ties to suctioning secretions from the trach. After Bob was done, the new nurse was so excited to understand what patients with tracheostomies needed. She was not nervous anymore. Bob did not have to take the time to teach her about this, but that is just who Bob is. He cares for his patients and his fellow nurses and it shows in his work. There will always be a nurse who does more than required and cares more than they are supposed to, and that is Bob, pediatric nurse extraordinaire, "Human by birth Hero by Choice."