On a late November day, it was deep into the workday at the SMJH operating rooms. It would have been easy to feel tired and ready to clock out. Then, our operating theatre received an add-on case for a diagnostic laparoscopy. Knowing that these cases can become complex and require extensive work, it would have been plausible for our OR team to feel disheartened with the extra lifting added onto an already challenging day.
Fortunately, our team included the vibrant spirit and energy of Elise Reummler as circulating nurse. Without hesitation, Elise hustled into action and started making preparations for the surgeon/anesthesiologist/staff to have all ducks aligned to enable the smoothest case flow possible. In a rapid and enthusiastic manner, she facilitated turnover from the prior case and came out to visit our patient in holding.
He was an 81-year old widower visiting from Illinois, without family, and with extensive comorbidities. Lumped onto this was a prominent state of active emesis and abdominal pain. Elise visited with him just prior to my interview. Despite the extensive energy she had just expended in preparing for the case, Elise never wavered in her superb bedside manner and love for our patient. My words cannot do justice to the compassion and words she used, but as I watched from a nearby cubicle, I was wonderfully impressed.
When I walked up to conduct my interview, Elise made one final check that I had everything necessary for conducting the anesthetic; yet another example of her routine display of professionalism mixed with teamwork.
I conducted my interview of our patient. He was in notable discomfort but did well to answer my questions and cooperate with the examination. At the conclusion of my visit, I shook his hand. He held on for a bit longer, pulled me closer, and said, "That nurse. She's something else. Will you please do me a favor and make sure she gets recognized for what she does?"
This narrative is a sincere fulfillment of my promise to that dear man.