Rick Cervantes
February 2021
Rick
Cervantes
,
BSN, RN
Emergency Services
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center
Laguna Hills
,
CA
United States
He is always willing to jump into the trenches with his team, something I value and respect in a charge nurse.
- Rick has been a great team leader since my first day in the ER two years ago. He is easy-going and willing to work with you no matter what the situation is. He always has a smile on his face and is in a good mood, even if he may secretly be in a bad mood - he would never show it. I enjoy coming to work when Rick is in charge because I know the night is going to run smoothly and we most likely won’t go on diversion because he will find a way to keep everything in order and organized. Thanks for everything you do Rick!
- Rick is a team leader. He is always cool, calm, and collected no matter the circumstance. I feel I can talk to him regarding the schedule and it is never an inconvenience. He is a pleasure to work with and be around.
- Rick is an amazing nurse supervisor. He is incredibly welcoming to every new staff member and makes them feel part of the team. He is always willing to jump into the trenches with his team, something I value and respect in a charge nurse. I know I can always rely on Rick if I have a question, a problem, or just need someone to talk to about a rough situation. He is reliable, kind, and brings our ED team together.
- When the department had a need, Rick encouraged me to pursue the position of relief charge. Previously, that would have never been a position I would have found myself applying for. But with his training and support, I found myself serving the emergency department in a new way. It is truly a role I have come to appreciate and enjoy as an ER nurse. I thank you, Rick, for taking your time and believing in me, and helping me grow as a leader within the department.
- Rick is such an amazing person inside and out. Even though we don’t work together much he always puts a smile on my face and makes me feel a part of the team and like this is my second family. To me personally, Rick is an inspiring leader, wonderful nurse, and he has the biggest heart I have ever seen. I always feel comfortable coming to him with problems and concerns because he will listen intently and do his best to help in any way he can. If I could function at night I would work nights simply to be able to work with him always. He is an inspiration to a lot of us and I can only hope to be as amazing of a nurse as him and still have such a kind and gentle heart at the end of the day.
- My very first day off orientation as a newly transitioned ED nurse landed on a busy day. Rick introduced himself and then gave me my assignment. I started out with a neuro ICU, a newly bedded septic newborn, plus two other full workups still in progress. I quickly put my eyes on my ICU patient before moving on to the child. I remember looking down at this septic newborn with an IV in hand and feeling low-key terrified of all the crying I was about to cause. I wish I could say I went in and drew blood like a boss but instead completely chickened out. I immediately turned around and asked Rick for moral support at the bedside (for me, not the patient). The unit was packed with patients, but Rick still took what seemed like an eternity to stay with me and heel stick the baby twice. At the time, I thought Rick was just being polite when he could have easily thrown me to the wolves. Looking back, I realize Rick is one of those rare people who make you feel like they have all the time in the world to help and answer questions. And boy did I have so many questions not four weeks later when he started me off in triage. I am the strong ER nurse you see today because of Rick. He continues to challenge and mentor me today in my new role as a relief charge. Rick is not only a great leader but the most compassionate person I’ve ever met. I will always remember the time we had a young couple in their late twenties who were both physically handicapped (pre-covid). The boyfriend, who had cerebral palsy, required admittance overnight. His wheelchair-bound girlfriend, who was driven by the patient, had no other means to get home and the floor staff declined her ability to stay with him. They said she was a “liability in an overcrowded room” and told her she could return during visiting hours instead. Rick didn’t accept this. Rick wheeled her back down to the ER and personally cared for her the rest of the night in room 8 until she could be reunited. It’s not a shift with Rick unless you hear the words “what are we eatin’ tonight” as he slides you a pen and paper. You don’t even have to be staff to get on the food list. Rick can frequently be seen buying the psych holds fast food or snacks from the vending machine and casually chatting up the locals who visit us weekly. Rick is just as kind towards staff as he is with patients. I’ve seen him coordinate small financial relief funds for a handful of staff during a time of loss. He also helped me drive home an employee who had unexpectedly checked herself into the ED while on the job (She was unsafe to drive herself but needed to return to her sleeping children who were home alone). This ER is a great place directly because of Rick. We are so fortunate to have him, and I look forward to many more years working beside him.