"It's about finding your voice, speaking up for safety and advocating for your patient that is very vulnerable on the OR table - it's a hard thing to do for most, and as leaders, we need to set a good example to everyone else by doing it ourselves."
This snippet, taken from an e-mail authored by Becky Willits, speaks to her extraordinary work and exemplary practice that makes her a DAISY Nurse. Throughout her 25-year nursing career, Becky has worked in a variety of departments, including maternal fetal medicine, the women's health clinic, the operating room (OR), interventional radiology, and the family birth center (FBC). Becky prioritized continued personal growth and professional development in each of these roles as evidenced, by her attainment of the inpatient obstetric certification, the perioperative certification, and completing her RN first assist. Additionally, she also serves as a Clinical Care Leader for the FBC.
Becky has blended her knowledge from these experiences with enthusiasm to establish and share a vision of best-practice standards in the FBC OR. Prior to my conversations with Becky, I was unfamiliar with the acronym AORN. However, as I repeatedly heard this acronym while conversing with Becky, I quickly learned that AORN is the acronym for the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses. Within weeks of her leadership, Becky had initiated and inspired nurses to adhere to AORN best practices from wearing the proper eye protection and clothing to using the correct doors to enter the OR. Becky accomplished this, not by viewing or treating staff as if they were incompetent, but rather, through compassionate leadership, education, and mentorship.
It was identified that there continued to be insufficient knowledge in the OR. Becky worked to problem solve and contribute creative solutions, including the idea of an "OR pool". Current FBC nurses would have the option of joining this pool in order to work in the OR position more consistently. This created an opportunity to recognize the desires and passions of individual nurses while also allowing for continued growth and professional development. Additionally, it also allowed the FBC to provide a higher level of expertise and care to patients regardless of the day or shift. The nurses in the OR pool have become the identified experts for this area and are frequently given education and updates which they then pass along to all staff. As a result of Becky's motivation and shared vision, there are now over 20 nurses on this team.
Becky's exemplary work has only continued. Earlier this summer, surgical site infections were identified as an area for performance improvement for the FBC. Shortly after, the FBC leadership team received an e-mail from Becky with information on a free Power in Prevention Program which helps identify what quality improvement process can be modified when surgically prepping a patient. Within one week of this initial e-mail, Becky had set up the appropriate meetings, and within 60 days, the Power in Prevention Program was incorporated into our operating room.
Although difficult to articulate the expansive influence of Becky Willits, it is my hope that the above examples serve as a window into her extraordinary work and exemplary practice that makes her a DAISY Nurse.