Michelle Bunikis
January 2020
Michelle
Bunikis
,
RN
OR
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle
,
WA
United States

 

 

 

Michelle is the kind of nurse who every patient wants caring for them. She is attentive to large and small details which are evidenced by how many things she finds to improve or suggest improvements in caring for our patients in the OR. She goes to great lengths to make sure every patient gets attention and care that they need to have a safe and successful surgery. She has worked to solve problems such as gaps in care, missing documents, positioning issues, equipment, and bed issues. Michelle works actively to solve problems and make our patients' care seamless. She helps everyone: patients, OR staff, central sterile processing staff, Center Core staff, surgeons, and anesthesia providers. She is always a positive force for improvement, change, and excellence.
Michelle has put in countless hours to help her colleagues in the OR. She was the researcher and author with Infection Control of our updated guidelines for airborne precautions in the OR. She is helping to lead the efforts toward eliminating surgical smoke to help create a healthy work environment for everyone. She is the OR UPC Chair and was also instrumental towards forming our Perioperative Local Practice Council. She has the respect of her peers and everyone in the OR. She always has a smile on her face and time for everyone. She represents the very best of OR nursing.