How do you describe a nurse who can be relied on at any time for any reason to be able to care for any patient in any condition that comes to the ICU? How do you describe a nurse that truly does the right thing and gives the best care? How do you describe a nurse, a co-worker, who will go with you, without pause, into a patient's room when you know it's going to be a really bad situation?! I would describe that nurse as a rock, around which chaos seems to flow, calm and unmovable. I would describe her as smart, funny, helpful, kind, sarcastic, intuitive and the list goes on and on.
I have worked with Tanya many years, and while I may not remember specific stories, I remember throughout the years moments that make up what Tanya does as a Critical Care Nurse.
Over the years Tanya has been a preceptor for most of our new nurses. I have a hard time remembering when she isn't training. She has a way of explaining complex situations that new nurses are able to work with. We should have a stamp made "Tanya Trained".
Tanya is an experienced Cardiac nurse and recovers Open Heart surgery patients. If some piece of equipment can be attached to a patient in any way, Tanya can care for it and the patient.
There have been times when we get a patient transferred to Critical Care moments from coding and she will calmly take the patient until they are out of distress and then if necessary, shuffle her assignment without comment.
How do I describe what Tanya does? She is the reason that many patients who go to CCU, get to walk out of the hospital. She is the nurse that other nurses, with a patient in distress, wish would take over and make things better. For me, when I know Tanya is working, I can breathe a little easier.