"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo F. Buscaglia
Joyce is the charge nurse AMC DT OR and has been a nurse for 28 years. In this role not only is Joyce the charge nurse for the service, but she staffs, takes call, and covers traumas when they arrive to us in the operating room. She says that it is so rewarding to be able to make a difference in the lives of her patients and the staff. She is the nurse that is always positive and goes well beyond the requirements of her job. The OR has been extremely short-staffed, and Joyce assures her peers are her priority.
Joyce talks about her work ethic, which she attributes to her strong relationship with God. She is the first person at work, will frequently stay late to finish a case, and of course, comes in when she is requested to cover call. She comes into work with a positive and with a "can-do" attitude. One of her goals is to have every item that the surgeon will need for every case so that everything goes smoothly.
Joyce understands many of the nuances of surgery and strives to achieve on-time starts, quick room turnovers, and stay on schedule. She explains that this is important for both surgeon and patient satisfaction. At the end of the day, the surgeons often have office hours and other obligations to meet. If the schedule falls behind and the surgeon is late this can create turmoil with the schedule. If the patient's schedule does not go as planned, the patient and family satisfaction diminishes, she believes it is a win-win situation for everyone to stay on track and finish the day on time.
Another priority for Joyce is to build relationships with the perioperative staff and patients. She has an incredible relationship of trust and respect with the surgeon and the staff. She is the nurse that is requested when surgeons and staff themselves need to have surgery. They are reassured that they will receive the best care and that every safety measure will be taken during their surgery. She builds relationships through excellent communication and treats each patient as if they are her family. She says it is her basic love for people which connects her to the staff and her patients.
A special story Joyce shared with me was about her 37-year-old patient who was a drug addict. She came into ICU with an aneurysm and was comatose and non-responsive. Joyce cared for this patient and comforted her already overwhelmed mother. Several months later Joyce reconnected with the patient who was awake a recovering from her condition. Joyce made a personal connection and she talked about how this validates why she loves her job. Most recently she had a trauma patient with a severe injury. His chest was exposed, and you could virtually see his heart beating. She said whatever the patient situation is she is not there to judge but to take care of her patient. The patient later passed. As she was removing his clothes from under the stretcher, she remembers his beating heart and the loss of his life. Joyce quietly smiled and said this is why I do what I do. It is my connection.
Joyce is an exceptional surgical nurse who goes above and beyond every day to turn lives around with a smile, diligent quality ethics, and her ability to care. She deserves this very special honor.