Mary Jo
Schmidt
July 2012
Mary Jo
Schmidt
,
RN
Childrens' Hospital - Procedure RN
Medical Center
Macon
,
GA
United States

 

 

 

When I first met Mary Jo Schmidt, she was working as a nurse extern on the floor. She is from up north so it took some of us a little time to get used to the “direct and matter of fact” approach that has become her trade mark.

She works on the General Pediatric Floor in the Children’s Hospital and is a nurse who is called to help the other nurses and the nurses in the Outpatient Area when extra help is needed. She is always willing to do whatever is needed.

There have been times when patients have been admitted to the floor and did not know they were coming to town to be admitted. A lot of our patients’ families do not have the money to buy food while they are here. There was a time around Christmas when a child was admitted and the mother had the siblings of the child with her and they were from out of town. The mother did not have any family support or even friends that she could call to help with the children or to borrow money. She was worried that she would lose her job because she would be missing work to stay with her sick child. Mary Jo began collecting money for the family and before she left that evening, she had put together a basket with snacks and drinks for the children while they were here. She had also collected about $100.00 to cover the mom and two siblings with meals while the one child was admitted to the hospital. The mother was very appreciative that someone cared enough to go out of their way for her and her children.

Mary Jo can deliver the information needed by giving the bottom line and in a manner the family and patient can understand. She has been known to draw pictures for the children to explain the procedure that is being done. She is good at working with the parents to provide whatever they are comfortable with such as whether they stay in the room, recovery room or the waiting room. She will be the first to tell the parents if they need to go take a break and go lie down, that she will call them if they are needed. There are many times the families will put their trust in her and take her advice.

She is the first person to volunteer to get a project or job done and when you give her a job you can rest assured it will be completed. She is part of the staff on C3M, but she actually works between C3M and CHOPS whenever asked. She will work as Charge Nurse on the floor. She not only does a good job, but performs these tasks with a smile and enthusiasm.

Mary Jo not only embraces change but volunteers to lead her coworkers through the changes which need to occur. She is excited about acquiring new knowledge and using new equipment, she will offer to be a “Superuser” so she can teach the other staff members.

She is an ambassador for the Medical Center of Central Georgia. She takes the new members or our team under her wing to guide and mentor them. She is a cheerleader for the “underdogs” including staff or patients. Compassion is the driver behind the kindness and dedication that is second nature to Mary Jo Schmidt.