Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1187856
Working Nurse l WorkingNurse.com 23 November 18, 2019–January 13, 2020 "I have learned so much from being exposed to so many different people and cultures here in Los Angeles." Matt Woodard Emanuel, RN-BC, MSN, CRRN Director of Quality Management, Acute Rehabilitation Nursing CALIFORNIA REHABILITATION INSTITUTE "Some days in the ED are full of bumps and bruises, be they physical, emotional or mental." Christopher Ernst, RN, BSN Emergency Department HUNTINGTON HOSPITAL What do you particularly love about your specialty? I'm responsible for ensuring the hospital is compliant with myriad regulatory bodies, man- aging the quality of patient care and relations, performance improvement, and policies and procedures. I love the variety and flexibility of my position. There are often unique challenges that require not only sound clinical judgment, but also consideration of risk, patient experience, impact of staff workflows and so on. Almost every day is different and I am constantly learning. Please share the funniest or most moving thing that's happened to you as a nurse (bearing HIPAA in mind). In my first year of practice, I cared for a young woman who frequented our surgical ICU due to her chronic condition. Despite her lengthy stays, she seemed relatively healthy, but one night, when I went into work, I learned that she had coded and passed over the weekend. At first, I felt stoic, almost indifferent. I had seen others die in the unit. Later that week, while traveling to visit family, I found myself crying. I felt a surge of emotion as the tragedy of her situation struck me and I realized the frailty of life, how precious it is. What has being a nurse taught you? I have learned so much from just being exposed to so many different people and cul- tures here in Los Angeles. Seeing so many dif- ferent aspects of life have given me invaluable insights that have helped me grow not only as a nurse, but also as an individual. What do you particularly love about your specialty? Everyone passing through the ED has their own emergency. It's our job to walk with them through their journey. Some days are full of bumps and bruises, be they physical, emotion- al or mental. Other days are filled with the kind of trauma you see on TV. The beauty is that you never know what you're going to get or how you'll make a difference. Please share the funniest or most mov- ing thing that's happened to you as a nurse (bearing HIPAA in mind). A patient presented with scabies. In previous visits, her hair had always been in a shower cap, but this time, I decided to remove the cap and do a thorough assessment. I found that the cap had begun to wear a circumferential ulcer into her scalp, and lice and other organ- isms were living in her deeply matted hair. An ED tech and I cleaned her wounds and shaved her hair. Several years later, when she came through the ED again, she no longer wore a shower cap and her hair was well-kept. She thanked us for helping her start over. I am thankful that my tech and I took the time to provide her with the care she needed. What has being a nurse taught you? That it's important to be a good team player and to never hesitate to ask for help. Because you can never anticipate what a day in the ED will look like, it's so important to have a good team on your side.