The collaborative teamwork between the OR team and the PACU team is essential in keeping the peri-op team running efficiently. This is especially true on the weekends when there is minimal staff in PACU. A lot of the hospital does not understand what goes on or how the peri-op world functions. We typically don’t get to have significate stories that involve exceptional patient care because our patients are sedated for the vast majority of their time with us. That is why we want to recognize one of our valued team members who consistently goes above and beyond and, while every member of the team is needed to make this work, Ginny (weekend day shift OR charge nurse) is exceptional.

Not only is Ginny in charge of coordinating in the OR between staffing, scheduled cases, emergencies that come into the ER, and any other responsibilities we don’t know about, but she recognizes that the work she does in the OR directly affects the PACU staff and how efficiently and safely we can function.

On the weekend, PACU is staffed with only two call nurses. That does not leave the PACU a lot of wiggle room. Ginny has gone out of her way to make it clear that, even though she has OR responsibilities, she is here as a resource for PACU to ensure patient safety is always the priority. There is not one specific story that led us to nominate her, but recognition by all our staff that she is constantly being complimented and acknowledged for the little things she does/did that, in retrospect, made the shift go much easier and helped keep patient safety the main focus.

For example, one weekend the ORs were busy and there were already three patients in PACU, one of which was restless and agitated. Two more patients were coming and the PACU staff was unable to safely care for them. Ginny was notified and came over to help immediately. She transported patients, helped with the agitated patient, and stopped the ORs until we were safely able to care for the patients that were here. After everything calmed down, Ginny came over and debriefed with the PACU and anesthesiologist to identify reasons as to why the situation had occurred and what she could do, as the OR charge nurse, to try to prevent this from happening again.

Fast forward to the next weekend when the team realized there would be two COVID-positive patients recovering in PACU at the same time despite attempts to plan accordingly. Ginny realized this and communicated with the PACU nurses that she would be available in PACU to assist and the ORs would be put on hold until PACU would be able to care for additional patients.

It is safe to say, there are so many more stories like this. She truly has the entire peri-op team as her main focus, not just the OR. She will never say no or “it is not my job” when she is asked for help. If she can’t do it, she will find someone who can or a way to make it happen. Whether we are having difficulty providing needed care to a patient, are backed up on transports or are overrun by patients, she is always available and the first call we make because we know she is willing to help however she can. She is a true team leader, valued team member, and champion for patient safety… she encompasses all of our St. Mary’s values wrapped in one extraordinary nurse!