Christine plays a pivotal role at Carrie Tingley Outpatient Orthopedic clinic. She facilitates discussions with our providers in order to provide the best care to our patients. Christine actively seeks to make a difference, whether for our patients or our staff. Christine has recently assumed the role of preceptor to a new nurse in our clinic and has excelled.
A large portion of Christine's time is spent in preparing our patients for their spinal surgeries. Christine spends many hours answering questions and addressing parents' concerns as well as facilitating home /hospital/school for patients who will require it and ensuring that the patients are as prepared as possible for surgery. Christine facilitates the pre-operative visit by arranging the clinic visit, pre-anesthesia appointment and tour of the inpatient unit. Christine arranges for the parents and patient to meet the therapists and Child Life staff that will be working with the patient during recovery on the inpatient unit. As part of her pre-operative teaching, Christine facilitates social work, care management and outpatient Child Life visits to address each aspect of the patient's journey.
Christine reassures parents and presents information in a calm and encouraging manner. It is not unusual for Christine to spend up to an hour in a pre-operative appointment ensuring that the patient and family are ready for the procedure and that all their questions have been answered. Christine perseveres in finding answers to our patients' many questions while maintaining a cheerful and kind attitude. She consistently goes above and beyond what is expected of her; she is compassionate and always willing to help others.
Christine is our resident cheerleader, either putting up welcome banners for new staff or arranging a potluck to raise morale. Christine tries to think 'outside the box' to try to make clinic as efficient as possible. Christine actively seeks opportunities to grow and increase her own learning in order to include more knowledge in her teaching. Christine desires to excel and is always trying to learn something new, whether it is new computer software or a new patient care policy. She has been known to attend conferences as well as other educational sessions on her own time so that her patients receive the best care.
Christine is one of those nurses who do not get the credit she deserves. She does all of this because she is just "doing her job." As supervisors who work with Christine we are so happy to have her here at Carrie Tingley and realize that sometimes it is the small things that make a huge difference for our patients.
Christine is an extraordinary nurse and we hope that one day she realizes how many lives she has impacted. Thank you Christine for being someone we can all aspire to be. You are an amazing nurse!