At St. Joseph Hospital, we believe every interaction with our patients, visitors and fellow team members should be a Sacred Encounter. In fact, we believe so strongly in Sacred Encounters that it is one of the main initiatives in our organizational strategic plan. Sacred Encounters do not necessarily refer to a religious experience; instead, they set the tone for the daily connections we make with each other.
In the following features articles, members of our Nursing team share a little about themselves and their interpretations of Sacred Encounters:
Jeannie Bennett, R.N., BSN, CNOR, Nursing Manager, Operating Room
Jeannie, please tell us about your career background.
A year after graduating from nursing school I left the Philippines and moved to New Jersey where I worked in a small hospital for eight years. I hated the weather and moved to California. The only place I applied was Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. I wanted to be at a large hospital with an open-heart surgery program. I was there for 16 years until it was time for a change. So, six years ago I called Christine Phipps, who I’d met when she worked at Long Beach Memorial, and who was the OR manager here at the time. I came to St. Joseph Hospital because of the pediatric open-heart program and I wanted to complete my nursing experience.
Five years ago when Christine was promoted to OR assistant director I pursued the OR manager position. As I expected it was very challenging, but the doctors and I have warmed up to each other. We now see eye to eye and I know they appreciate me and I appreciate them. When you’re coming from the outside as the new nurse on the block, you have to prove yourself to nurses – then they become your best friends. We are very fortunate to have good nurses in CVOR. It is the collaborative effort and cohesiveness that make the team shine.
We’re a growing area, and it’s exciting to see what’s coming with our Hybrid OR, opening this summer. This will be the first true hybrid in Orange County because of the technology we’ll have and the fact that it’s located within the OR. It integrates the Cath Lab and OR for the latest procedures, like percutaneous valve implantation. Instead of opening the chest, it will be performed through a hole (in the groin). We expect to see it approved by the FDA by next spring, so we will have time to perfect our skills. We were fortunate to have the space for the Hybrid OR. It’s a big room that took four of our former OR suites to accommodate all of the equipment and people who may need to be present. Like our new ORs in the PCC, everything hangs from the ceiling. The robotic C-arm reminds me of the movie Transformers.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
Two people talking, connecting and understanding each other.
Can you share a memorable Sacred Encounter?
One thing I do every morning is check to see if we have a pediatric patient and if we do I make it a point to meet the parents. I introduce myself and reassure them. They’re very nervous, and sometimes they burst into tears. Most of the time whatever I say to them they won’t hear. The only thing that registers is the phrase, “We’ll take good care of your baby.” I bring the baby to the OR and have another nurse meet us to bring the baby to the room, then I take the family to the waiting area. I tell them how long we expect the surgery to be and update them with the progress as often as possible.
Because we have excellent surgeons and anesthesiologists we get to see some of our patients return (staging the repairs). I usually don’t recognize the children because they’ve grown so much. I do recognize the parents and they remember me and tell me about their baby. I tell them that although a subsequent surgery has its difficulties (because of scarring and adhesion inside), because the child is bigger his or her chances of recovery are better. I see a failure-to-thrive baby before surgery and few months later I’m able to say, “What a butterball!” These encounters are a very fulfilling aspect of my job.
Linda Buck, R.N., Oncology Nurse, Infusion Center
Linda, what is your background?
A friend of mine (Pam Matten, R.N.) convinced me I had to come to St. Joseph Hospital. I’ve worked here for six years and have been a nurse for 23 years. I started my career in oncology, then worked in home health and as a critical care nurse. Oncology nursing has always been my love because of the long relationships you develop with patients. It’s wonderful when they survive and an honor to help people through the process of dying. I am so proud to work here. There’s never been a day when I woke up and didn’t want to come in. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.
Tell us about working in the Infusion Center.
Every day is different and it’s very fast paced. While we see a lot of oncology patients here for chemotherapy, we also infuse patients who have conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, renal diseases and those who’ve had kidney transplants. I love that we’re part of the National Marrow Donor Program. The donors are here in a bed for six to eight hours, so I have a chance to get to know these wonderful people donating their stem cells for someone they don’t even know.
Please tell us about a memorable sacred encounter you’ve had here.
We had a transplant patient who was dying and needed an intravenous device. The one he got made him sad. It prevented him from swimming with his grandchildren, which he had always done. I listened to him and was able to advocate for him by involving a social worker and talking to his doctor. They were able to change the device so he could swim. He came back and thanked me and told me how important that was to him.
Jodi Caggiano, R.N., BSN, CCRN, Stroke Coordinator
(now Heart Failure Program Coordinator)
Jodi, please tell us about yourself and your role at St. Joseph Hospital.
On January 1st (2009) I became the Stroke Program Coordinator, a new position at St. Joseph Hospital. Prior to that, I worked in Critical Care, most recently as Care Clinical Coordinator. In my new role I will be raising awareness in our surrounding community and the medical community about stroke prevention and early intervention, and about St. Joseph Hospital as a trusted provider of stroke care. I will also be managing outcomes data, looking for opportunities to improve in keeping with our goal of Perfect Care. I’m excited about combining the teaching component, which nurses like me love to do, with an analytical component. I like that I’ll have many opportunities to interact with patients, their families, and all disciplines in caring for stroke patients. Having worked in critical care for 10 years I’ve been exposed to high pressure situations requiring critical responses, and it helps that I have established relationship with many of our physician groups.
With stroke we say, “Time is brain.” It’s vital to find the area of insult and restore blood flow as quickly as possible to reverse or diminish the damage caused by a stroke. At St. Joseph Hospital we have vascular and neurological specialists, partnering with the stroke team, available to stroke patients 24/7. Having treated nearly 1,000 stroke patients in the past three years, we have the expertise, from the minute a stroke victim comes in and is triaged by an ER nurse, receives care by nurses on the Medical Telemetry and Critical Care units, through rehabilitation by our physical, occupational and speech therapists.
As you may be able to tell from my accent I was born and raised in Boston. I’ve been out here 20 years. I’ve been a nurse for 10 years, all as an ICU nurse, and I just recently finished my BSN.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
Meeting people where they are, at a vulnerable moment, and being present with them. It’s giving our most precious commodity – time – to identify and meet personal emotional needs. I had a lot of those moments in Critical Care.
Can you recall a memorable Sacred Encounter?
On a very busy night shift while working a code blue was called in our unit. As the Clinical Coordinator I needed to be there during what can be a very chaotic time to discern what’s needed and support the team effort. The patient’s bedside nurse was a new grad who had never experienced a code, and I saw that she was in need of help. I was able to model how to be calm, to reinforce what she was doing, to ensure that everything was done right for the patient, and afterwards to help with debriefing. Several years later she still talks about it.
Jennifer Campos, R.N., Infusion Center
Jennifer, please tell us about your background and role at St. Joseph Hospital.
I’ve been with the Health System for 13 years, starting with a medical group at St. Jude Medical Center. I came to St. Joseph Hospital eight years ago, starting as a Receptionist at the Cancer Center, then working as a Patient Accounts Coordinator. I spent three years in Quality Management, became an RN and worked nights for a year on 3 South. I began working at the Infusion Center on June 30. I wouldn’t have gone to nursing school if not for some very special nurses that I had worked with at the Cancer Center.
In the Infusion Center there are seven of us, giving chemo, doing blood transfusions, infusions and quick injections. It’s not just oncology patients we see. We usually have the same patients coming back regularly so it’s like family. We have a lot of fun. The patients tell us they like to come and see us.
The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment is an inspiring place and I love working there. I like having everything in one area, so the patients can go through their entire disease process, from first diagnosis to their last treatment in this one, gorgeous place. Even though I live all the way out in Moreno Valley I plan to work here for a long time.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
Putting myself where the patient is – making him or her feel how I would want to feel if I were a patient here. I try to give each of my patients my undivided attention and make the person feel like they’re my only patient. If their first experience is good and they need to come back, they won’t be scared.
Can you recall a recent Sacred Encounter?
Just yesterday we had the first emergency situation in the new Center. It was very intense. In our old building we were right next to the ER and we could just call a code. Now we don’t have a MET (Medical Emergency Team). We had a patient in the Infusion Center have an allergic reaction to her platelets 10 minutes into an hour long infusion. She only spoke Mandarin. Her daughter alerted us that something was wrong. She was jerking like she was having a seizure, and she’d lost consciousness.
We activated the First Response Team and everyone was fabulous. Not being in an acute care setting where emergencies happen everyday, the response was unbelievable. We called 911, and the three nurses at the Infusion Center, the Radiation Oncologist, Radiation Oncology Nurse, a Nurse Practitioner from a doctor’s office and our Unit Secretary all responded. An ambulance and paramedics were here within 10 minutes and took her to the ER. The daughter was pretty shaken up. As she was walking out the door the three nurses from the Infusion center were standing in a row. One after the other, we each gave her a hug on her way out.
Afterward we debriefed to see if there was anything we could have done better, and came up with some ideas, but the bottom line was everyone felt the response went as it should. If I ever had a code, this is where I’d want to be.
Susan Dragoo, R.N.C.-OB, DNP, Advanced Practice Nurse, Women’s Services
Sue, what’s your background with St. Joseph Hospital?
I’ve been here about a year in my current role, but have a 10-year history with St. Joseph Hospital. Prior to coming here I developed and was the nurse practitioner for Methodist Hospital Women’s Clinic in Duarte. In addition, I was a clinical nurse instructor with California State University Long Beach until I became restless. We’d do onsite clinical rotations here through Labor & Delivery, Newborn Nursery and Post Partum, so I got to know the staff. I’ve always known that St. Joseph Hospital stood for quality of care and would have come to work at here sooner, if not for my commute from Monrovia.
As an advanced practice nurse my role is similar to that of a clinical nurse specialist, meaning I’m involved with nursing and clinical practice issues that arise, education of existing staff and new hires, and patients who have special needs. A lot of research is required. It’s a great job. Being the first person in this position I’ve been encouraged to define it and make it my own. I’ve learned a huge amount this year, after 30 years in women’s health.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
You’ve been given the privilege to be at the right place at the right time to make a change in someone’s life. It’s also a two-way street, and that person makes a different in your life as well.
Can you share a memorable Sacred Encounter you’ve had at St. Joseph Hospital?
In Women’s Services we’re blessed to have daily Sacred Encounters delivering babies. One of our high-risk moms recently came in to deliver. The dad hadn’t been home for a month – he was working in the oil fields in Iraq. Within 12 hours of his arrival home the baby was born. The ICU and Women’s Services really came together to enable the family to bond during what we call the “golden hour.” Even though mom had to go to the ICU, we were able to tuck that baby onto mommy’s chest during the first two hours of recovery. The parents didn’t request or expect this, but they were pleasantly surprised and very appreciative that we made that Sacred Encounter happen.
Bringing mom and baby together skin-to-skin is an important focus for a “Baby Friendly” hospital. Working toward that internationally recognized designation over the past four or five years has been a stringent process. It has changed the culture of our department. Each nurse had to complete 18 hours of education on important aspects of care such as early attachment bonding and breastfeeding. I’m a latecomer; Carol Suchy has done an awesome job as the driving force behind the “Baby Friendly” initiative with fabulous support from the leadership team. There are only 79 hospitals in the nation and no others in Orange County who have achieved Baby Friendly status. It distinguishes St. Joseph Hospital’s obstetrical services as best practice. It shows we’re doing the very best we can for our patients, from start to finish. Who wouldn’t want to go to a hospital like that?
Diana Gilbert, R.N., CPAN, Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
Diana, please share with us your history with St. Joseph Hospital.
Five years ago, after 18 years in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at CHOC, I came to St. Joseph Hospital, wanting to expand my expertise but stay in a critical care area. I chose to work in PACU. I still get to care for children, whom I love, and I have learned it is just as much an honor to care for adults.
I am so incredibly proud of the excellent care and compassion we give our patients at St. Joseph Hospital. I wouldn’t work anywhere else. We have earned our Magnet status because of the leadership of Katie Skelton. Her open door and open communication style, her creation and encouragement of unit-based committees and the Nursing Advisory Council has empowered her nursing staff to be agents of change for our patients. Every RN can bring forth ideas for improving patient care and their ideas will be heard.
The Magnet process encourages nurses to improve their skills. I recently received my certification as a Peri Anesthesia nurse to join seven other certified nurses in our unit. I’m a preceptor for new nurses in PACU. I chaired our unit based council for a year, and served on both the UBC and the Nursing Advisory Council for three years. My favorite job in the PACU is to precept our nurses. I love their enthusiasm and I want to help them become great St. Joe nurses.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
For me a Sacred Encounter is something special shared between a healthcare professional and a patient - a shared thought or feeling, or physical or emotional care. It’s an interaction that helps to heal.
I’ve taken the values and initiatives that the Sisters have taught and use them internationally through Operation Smile. It’s a volunteer organization with surgical teams going to developing nations to perform cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries. Since 2004 I’ve used my vacation time for trips to eastern China, western China, Perú, Venezuela and, this past March, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
A cleft lip repair takes only about 45 minutes and a cleft palate repair an hour and a half, and it changes a child’s entire life. If we can help them before they’re five or six years old they may be able to speak without an impediment. Our team can correct deformities that can keep these children from marrying, having relationships or getting a job. We work 14 hours days, performing 30 to 40 surgeries a day for three to five days. In 2007 Operation Smile celebrated its 25th anniversary by having 42 mission groups going to 25 countries at the same time, performing surgeries for 5,000 children in one week! I learned about the organization while at CHOC from Dr. Sana Al-Jundi.
Families from remote areas who have no other recourse come for help from Operation Smile. Through interpreters we also teach the country’s surgeons and nurses and leave them with surgical supplies. With the children, language isn’t necessary. They understand your smile, your touch and your body language. These people are no different than we are, just less fortunate, and I feel honored to be in a position to help them. On one of the trips to China I met an OR nurse (Sharon Soloveoff, RNFA) who worked at a hospital in Los Angeles County.. I told her how great our Surgical Services department is and now she works here. She recently went on an Operation Smile mission to Madagascar.
I think volunteering also sets a good example for your children to follow. My 21-year-old daughter is in charge of philanthropy for her college sorority. They raised $13,000 for a pediatric cancer charity. My 24-year-old daughter will take her vacation this summer working as a counselor at a Girl Scout camp, teaching kids about horses and horseback riding.
If you have a gift or ability, think about sharing it – there is so much need in the world. I’m also a sponsor for a landmine organization in Cambodia. The country has 45 to 60 landmine accidents a month and 40,000 landmine amputees. When one of the nurses and I were walking through the town of Siem Reap we came across a rehab center where people had handmade splints and homemade legs. That country has had so much tragedy but the people are very resilient. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for them.
As far as Sacred Encounters with our patients, in the PACU the patients usually have no recollection of their recovery room experience. Although they don’t consciously remember, they will know a feeling of comfort and security from when you gave them a warm blanket, take their pain away or comfort them when they were scared.
Connie Engel, R.N.C., Labor and Delivery
Connie, please tell us about your background.
I’ve been a nurse for 22 years, and have been at St. Joseph Hospital about 10 years. I was a prepared childbirth educator for 12 years prior to nursing school. I was enthralled with birthing and thought I wanted to be a midwife. During nursing school I worked at a freestanding birth center in La Mirada for a physician who also did home deliveries.
I worked in a lot of places through registry and traveling, and St. Joseph Hospital is by far the best. Everyone talks about their values; St. Joseph Hospital lives them. Even when changes happen, the administration considers the impact on us and tries to make it as easy on us as possible.
As a Labor and Delivery nurse I have a great job. I participate in a miracle every day. I never get tired of it. Birth can still move me to tears. At the same time, I don’t think people realize how challenging and technical it can be. You might have a normal labor patient, and at other times you have to become a circulating or scrub nurse in the OR, a PACU nurse or a nurse using critical care skills.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
I think every encounter with another human being is a sacred encounter. The Buddhist greeting “Namaste” expresses it well. It means, “I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells; the light in me recognizes, appreciates and honors the light in you. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One.” This is how I try to live my life.
Can you tell us about a recent, memorable Sacred Encounter?
I had a patient who had planned to give birth at home with a midwife. She had been pushing at home for about three hours and the baby wasn’t coming. She came to us in a lot of pain, exhausted, discouraged and anxious. She had to have an immediate cesarean section. My coworkers came together and pitched in. It was like a well orchestrated symphony – a masterpiece! The outcome was beautiful – both mom and baby were fine. I was really proud of my coworkers, who could have had a lot of judgment for the couple’s choice to deliver at home, but there was none of that. Despite difficult circumstances the couple felt respected and cared for, and were very appreciative. The midwives felt honored and supported and left the encounter feeling good.
What came out of that was a suggestion to have a luncheon with area midwives, to help develop a bridge for good back–up; to meet them in a non-stressful environment, and to get to know each other as human beings and caregivers on the same team, wanting the same outcomes. We’re looking forward to planning that. It will be one sacred encounter leading to another.
Stacey Fischer, R.N., BSN, OCN, Nurse Navigator, Breast Program
Stacey, please tell us about your background.
I came to St. Joseph eight years ago from St. Jude Medical Center’s inpatient oncology unit to be a staff nurse in the Infusion Center. I have worked for the St. Joseph Health System for a total of 11 years. For the past five years I was the Bone Marrow Transplant Coordinator. In July, I became a Nurse Navigator for the Breast Program. I accepted this position to make a change and to ‘be the glue’ for breast cancer patients. There is a great need to help these women, with over 400 new breast cancer patients a year at St. Joseph Hospital. I have also been working part-time as the Magnet Coordinator, keeping the organization updated and the Magnetic energy moving as we prepare for redesignation in January 2011.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
It’s that special ‘ahh’ moment that touches you. We have a lot of them here.
Can you give us an example of a Sacred Encounter you’ve experienced?
When my son was born in 2003 he was diagnosed with a life threatening condition which required him to have a liver transplant. I was unable to work during this time. My former boss, Maureen Mikuleky, put out an email sharing my story and gave employees the option to donate time. The hospital staff responded by donating 500 hours of their PTO so I could stay with him. At the time I didn’t even know some of the people who donated. He had his liver transplant in 2004 and is doing very well. I am looking forward to him starting kindergarten this fall.
Justin Foxman, L.V.N., Emergency Department
Please tell us how you came to work at St. Joseph Hospital.
I’ve been a paramedic for eight years, an LVN for two years and in a few months I’ll complete my RN courses and take the state boards. I’m planning to become a certified flight registered nurse (CFRN). While I was taking some pre-requisite classes at Santa Ana College I met a nurse and a tech from St. Joseph Hospital who told me about an opening here and recommended I check it out. I started working here in 2007. I like everything about my job….my great coworkers with so many personalities, the excitement and quick decision making, and seeing patients come here in distress and leave feeling better.
What does a Sacred Encounter mean to you, and can you recall one that was memorable?
For me it’s when both the patient and healer or employee are touched. Two days ago we had a five-month old boy come in with severe respiratory distress. At one point he stopped breathing. We were able to get the family involved by showing them what was happening, what would happen next, what equipment we were using and the outcome that could be expected. Before they left the family came to us and said thanked us for saving his life. Not a lot of people say that, and we really appreciated it.
The St. Joseph Hospital Emergency department nominated Justin for the Richard L. Hoech Award for EMS advocacy, exceptional performance and excellence in functioning as a life saver in the community. Here is the story, reported by ED Manager Marianne Golden, of how he assisted the EMS in saving a life:
In Mid October of 2007, Justin Foxman LVN/Paramedic left St Joseph Emergency Department on his way to school. While waiting for a red light on Main Street to turn onto the 5 freeway, Justin noticed a stalled big rig in the center lane from the freeway overpass. As the light turned green, Justin began to merge onto the freeway. Suddenly a fast moving truck, hit the bid rig and the big rid slammed into the back of the stalled truck. The impact happened at about 70 M.P.H. causing an instant explosion, debris shot into oncoming traffic, and both sides of the freeway came to an immediate stop. Due to the fire and both trucks in flames, Justin and another off duty Santa Ana P.D. officer were the first responders to the scene. They had the only access to where the accident occurred. Justin had parked downwind and got out of his car to check for injuries. He found a man trapped in the cab of his big rig truck banging on the window, with fully engulfed flames inside the cab of his truck. Justin knew the driver had 2-3 min to get out or he would burn to death. After brief discussion with the CHP officer he said, “It was too dangerous and nothing could be done, unfortunately.”
The officer also said, “Santa Ana Fire Department could not gain access, due to the traffic and would be delayed by 20 min.” Justin couldn’t stand there and watch someone die. He said, “I’m a licensed paramedic and nurse, and it was time to work.” Justin climbed up the driver side of the big rig and with much force was able to break the window with his fist. Smoke and flames were billowing out very heavy. He noticed the truck driver legs were trapped and pinned beneath the engine block. Without hesitation, Justin grabbed the driver under his arms and pulled him out of the truck window, falling on top of him. Justin proceeded to drag the injured truck driver approximately 200 feet down the freeway to safety. With in seconds of removing the truck driver from the burning cab the entire truck exploded. There was an off duty firefighter who arrived at the scène. With his emergency medical equipment they both cut off the burning clothes from the injured truck driver. They found third degree burns to over 60 % of his body and the lower extremities, which were badly damaged. Justin drenched the burned victim in moist burn-dressings, stabilized his airway, performed a head to toe assessment, and started and I.V. Within 10 minutes Justin reported off to Santa Ana Fire Department. The burned patient level of conscientious became altered due to shock. He was soon transported to U.C. I Medical Center and later treated in the burn unit.
Steve Granda, R.N., BA, Renal Dialysis
Steve, what’s your background?
I’ve worked at St. Joseph Hospital since 1985 and since then have cared for hundreds of patients, first as a per diem nurse for chronic renal patients and for about the past 10 years in acute dialysis. I wanted to work here because St. Joseph Hospital had a reputation as the best dialysis treatment center in Orange County.
When I was a kid I never dreamed I’d be a nurse, but as it turns out nursing is the best job I ever had. After high school I went to trade school and became an automobile mechanic. It was the Vietnam era and I was drafted. At first I was going to be fixing jeeps and trucks but at the last minute they sent me to clerk school, then medical records school. I served with a medical battalion in Texas; fortunately I was never activated to Vietnam. When I got out of the service I went to work in a garage and back to school, getting my degree in sociology. I couldn’t get a job in that field so I became an insurance adjuster, but didn’t like being in an office. I took an aptitude test which showed I should be a forensic investigator or a nurse. I decided to take an anatomy/physiology course, aced it and applied for nursing school at Golden West College. I was 40 years old when I graduated with my nursing degree. While I was in school I had a job driving a van, bringing patients back and forth to dialysis for Whittier Presbyterian Hospital. I was asked if I’d like to train as a technician, and when I finished nursing school and got my license they offered to double my salary if I stayed so I did. They had a good training program for dialysis and I worked there about five years. That’s where I met my wife, Elsie, who is also a dialysis nurse. It was so romantic, having our eyes meet across the blood pump. Ten months ago she began working at St. Joseph Hospital (Pediatric Outpatient Dialysis) and she’s really happy here, too. There are so many people who have worked here for 30 or 35 years. There are folks that were born here, worked here all there life and died here. Even though I’ve been here almost 25 years sometimes I still feel like the new kid on the block.
Please tell us about your sacred encounters at St. Joseph Hospital.
A few days ago I dialyzed a patient who is now 38 years old, who I had first dialyzed when he was 14. In between he’d had transplants and some other medical problems, but he is an amazing survivor. We were reminiscing about the other kids who were patients with him, and his mom and dad gave me hugs.
Several months ago there was a lady who’d had open heart surgery. She was about my age but very frail and couldn’t talk because she was intubated. I suggested, “How about listening to some music from when we were in school.” Her feet were tapping and she was smiling around the tube as we listed to doo-wop music from the late ‘50s. It made her happy and she was able to forget her troubles for a little while, and that made me happy. Nurses are very caring but can be very busy. In my specialty I’m focused on one thing. Sometimes I don’t have to say anything – just holding their hand can be a sacred encounter.
Heidi Daniel, R.N., Surgical Program Manager
Heidi, please share some of your background with us.
I’ve been with St. Joseph Hospital since 1990 and feel blessed to work within this organization. There is never a dull moment with a nursing career. During my first 10 years here I worked as a staff nurse on the Med/Surg unit known as 2 North. I made life-long friendships, honed in on my nursing care management skills, and during that time had three children. When the youngest started kindergarten, I decided to make a work change and took an ICU internship. I promptly became pregnant with my fourth child. As working nights in ICU took a toll on life with a new baby, I moved to the Recovery Room and worked there for another two years. I will always value those years of nursing experience. In 2003, a friend of mine in the Recovery Room, who also had four children, encouraged me to apply for the Bariatric Surgery Program Coordinator position. That was probably the most rewarding career change of all. Working with bariatric patients is so gratifying. You develop such a bond with your patients and their families. I have stayed in contact with many of the patients for five years, or more! I get to be a supportive part of their positive changes, and see firsthand the affects of surgical weight loss on their lives.
Being obese affects every part of the body and every aspect of the patient’s life, from relations and pastimes to job performance and advancement. It’s really sad. Not only can these individuals not participate in life fully, they deal with a lot of prejudice. An important part of my job is to make staff aware of our prejudices and educate everyone on how to be sensitive to morbidly obese patients.
I love a challenge, so I’m also now helping to build a Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery program at SJO. The growing trend toward more minimally invasive procedures is very beneficial for patients in terms of faster recoveries, fewer side effects, less scarring and lower costs. More than ever consumers are looking for cutting edge technology, so we’re working to repackage and get the word out about our capabilities. We perform numerous robotics and minimally invasive procedures in specialties such as prostate, OB/Gyn, orthopedics, bariatrics, neurosurgery, colorectal and urology, and there are more on the horizon. We have so much to offer patients here with our awesome surgeons, outstanding technology, wonderful nursing staff and commitment to sacred encounters.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
An experience you have with someone that touches your heart, opens your eyes and changes your life. For example, when I see bariatric patients and all the barriers they are overcoming, it really encourages me. Also, when I encourage and educate my patients, it’s so neat to see them reach out to encourage other patients in the same manner. It’s like “paying it forward.”
Please tell us about a memorable Sacred Encounter you’ve had at St. Joseph Hospital.
At a recent bariatric support group meeting, a woman stood up and told another support group member, Louis, how he had motivated her and made a difference in her life. Louis was so thrilled. He always said if he could make a different in just one person’s life, his weight loss journey would be worthwhile for him, and he achieved that! I love to see that process of one person helping another - extending a hand to help one another. That is how I feel too, that if I can make a positive impact with just one person- it’s all worth while!
Janine Herrera, R.N., Orthopedic Unit
Janine, what is your background?
I’ve worked at St. Joseph Hospital for almost 30 years. Prior to coming to California, where my husband was stationed in the Marine Corps, I attended nursing school and worked in a Catholic hospital in Ohio for five years. Both of my parents were physical therapists so I suppose I had a feel for orthopedics. My entire career as been on an Ortho unit.
When I came to California in 1979 there was a severe nursing shortage. I interviewed at a lot of hospitals and they all offered me jobs. When I came here to interview it was a different atmosphere. The nurses had a good rapport with the doctors, and everyone made me feel at ease. You could say that was my first Sacred Encounter.
I’ve stayed because I’ve liked the unit and the people I work with. Even though many of them have changed over time, the tenor of the place stays the same. I feel really lucky to have found a place I like, and to work somewhere that has a sense of family. Nurses on our floor rarely leave. If they do it’s to go to another unit at St. Joseph Hospital or because they’ve moved out of the area. I worked per diem at Hoag a few years back to earn extra money, but at that time most everyone there was like me – white Anglo Saxons. Here, I’ve really enjoyed the cultural diversity, working with nurses from Thailand, Peru, El Salvador, and Mexico.
How do you define Sacred Encounters?
Everyone has their own definition. On our unit, we care for people who have had pain and immobility that has lessened their quality of life. For the most part they’re getting back to a better level of functioning, so it’s a happy place – kind of like the Mother/Baby Unit. There’s a feeling that we’re all in this together, of let’s help each other. There’s a sense of renewal in what I do and of life.
Can you recall a recent Sacred Encounter?
Every day there’s at least one. I want to impart to my patients the joy in what I do. A recent knee surgery patient made me realize my impact on patient care. He said to me, “I can’t believe an RN is giving me a bath.” I told him I enjoyed giving baths when I could and helping patients feel refreshed and clean. They remind me of my student days when our first contact with a patient would be a bath. It’s a very simple thing to do but it makes you feel close to patients. He said, “It must be nice to do something you really love. Not many people have that.” I also enjoy teaching as an RN. We have pre-op classes for patients, so most of our scheduled surgical patients know what to expect and I’m reinforcing what they know. Patients who come in through the ER are the most stressed out because they don’t know what’s going to happen in the hospital. The time I spend teaching really helps them.
Ann Marie Keefer-Lynch, R.N., MSN, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner,
La Amistad de Jose Family Health Center
Ann Marie, what is your career background?
I’ve been at St. Joseph Hospital for 30 years. I started as a receptionist in Radiology while I was in nursing school. When I graduated from Santa Ana College I was their first nursing student to be valedictorian. While continuing to take classes and working on my bachelor’s degree at Cal State Fullerton, I went to work on the Med Surg Unit. Within three months I was the relief charge nurse on nights, which was very exciting for me. After about four years Education asked if I’d like to be in their department, and I became a nurse educator. During that time I went back to UCLA for my master’s degree. After about eight years in Education I became the Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Emergency Department and Critical Care, staying there for eight or nine years. I went back to school again, this time to earn my post-master’s certificate to practice as Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Then about nine years ago La Amistad opened and I went there.
I’ve absolutely loved every single part of my career. I never tired of being here - I would just try something different. Sometimes that terrified me but I knew when to ask for help so that patients weren’t in danger. I think of St. Joseph Hospital like a mother’s womb where you are always being nurtured. This place is very pro-education. They allowed me to flex my schedule and provided tuition reimbursement.
La Amistad is the heart of the mission of the Sisters. There is so much need and our patients are so grateful. The people who come to us most likely are poor and would not have had any care at all, yet they are so well cared for here. On an average day I see 20 to 25 patients. Most of them have multi-system issues. We see a lot of diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension. We provide a lot of women’s services such as PAP smears and mammograms. Their lives are often so stressful. They’re likely to be living in high crime areas and taking three buses to get to us.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
That’s where the provider and patient, family member or another member of the team all meet in the same place. It’s doing the very best you can to meet needs and expectations in a Christian framework.
Please share a Sacred Encounter you’ve had here.
We don’t see a lot of kids because CHOC is here, so this little guy stands out for me. He was about nine years old and on his way to being a juvenile delinquent – failing in school, hanging with the wrong kids and incorrigible with his single mom, whose other child was disabled. First I cleared him medically. Like boys tend to be he was terse, but I kept digging and learned he felt picked on as a Latino boy in a school with predominantly Vietnamese students. I discovered he likes basketball so for his summer vacation I connected him with the Boys and Girls Club near his home. He came back a different kid, with a big smile, in part because of basketball. I also spoke with the school principal and we have a good shot at getting him changed to another school. It’s been heartwarming to see the change after he was on such a dangerous path.
In another Sacred Encounter, a lady came to us who was about 300 pounds, with hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes and depression. She asked me about the lap band, and I told her it has worked on certain people. Usually MSI only covers emergent conditions, but we agreed to try and she was approved. Over the last eight months she’s lost 100 pounds. She’s nearly off her diabetic medications. It was a win for her, for MSI and healthcare.
Another lady would come with her husband to our vans that go to their neighborhood in Santa Ana. Both are diabetic and in their late 40s or early 50s. They would come faithfully with their Chihuahua. The wife is now on Medicare, so she is no longer eligible to be seen through our program. She sobbed when she had to leave the clinic because it’s like we’re family.
Jacqueline Kimani, R.N., Medical/Telemetry Unit
Jackie, please give us some of your history.
Nursing has always had a place in my heart. My educational experience started in Business School at California State University, Fullerton. After graduating with a Business Degree in Business Administration l felt that something was still missing in my life. I decided to pursue a career in Nursing and soon fell in love with the field. My first job in Nursing was as a Nurse’s Aide at Hoag Memorial Hospital. I enjoyed what I was doing so much that l decided to do more. I enrolled at Saddleback College and earned an Associate Degree in Nursing. A friend told me about St. Joseph Hospital and it sounded like a place l would like to work. In 2006, after graduating from Nursing School I applied for a position as a New Graduate Registered Nurse. My experience here has been rewarding since then, and St. Joseph’s seems like a good fit for me. The unit staff work together and support each other even in difficult and busy times.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
Sacred Encounter is a unique experience you have with a patient. The experience touches you and connects you to the patient in a very unique way. It is very much like a foot print that stays imprinted in your memory that you will always remember.
Can you give us an example of a Sacred Encounter you’ve had?
A few weeks ago, I took care of a forty year old female patient. After reading an article in the St. Joseph’s newsletter she decided to participate in a lung screening that was being advertised. The screening test found a spec in her lung that resulted in a resection of part of her lung. The patient had no history of smoking or symptomatic of any disease. The patient had mixed feeling as expected and wanted to share them with someone she trusted. Her husband had just been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure and her life felt overwhelming. She needed someone to talk to as well as listen. Through her story we bonded not as nurse and patient, but as two human beings who realized that life is precious.
Pamela Matten, Nurse Navigator, Thoracic Oncology Program
Pam, what is your background with St. Joseph Hospital?
I started my nursing career eight years ago at St. Joseph Hospital in Radiation Therapy, and for the past five and a half years I’ve been the Nurse Navigator for the Thoracic Oncology Program. I had been at home with our five children when my husband was stricken with cancer – multiple myeloma - in 1996. I went back to school and earned my B.S. in Nursing from Azusa Pacific University in my 40s. It is a miracle that today he is in remission. That’s how I ended up in oncology nursing, and I’ve never regretted it. I love it! It’s a very personal kind of nursing. People are facing the biggest crisis of their lives and possibly death. I’m there to walk with them. I count that a privilege and an honor.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
It’s that moment when you know in your heart that God has orchestrated your encounter.
Can you tell us about a memorable Sacred Encounter you’ve had here?
Keith Dayton was a patient of mine for five years. He’d had three types of cancer – prostate, small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. A few weeks ago I took care of my patient one last time. I got to the ED right after Keith passed away. I asked the family to step out and I cleaned him up and took out his tubes. I talked to God, I talked to Keith, talked to God, and talked to Keith. It was a very loving encounter. The family came back in, and they were very thankful I was there.
I also gave a eulogy at his memorial service. I shared that he was somebody who people might have considered as unlucky since he’d had cancer three times. But Keith considered himself blessed to have beaten cancer as long as he did. He took unfortunate circumstances and turned them around. He started St. Joseph Hospital’s phone mentoring program for people diagnosed with cancer called “In Your Shoes,” which is continuing. Keith was well loved by many people here and an inspiration to us all.
Shane O'Connor, 3rd Floor - Medical/Surgical Unit
Shane, please tell us about your career history.
I started out as an EMT and after doing a rotation in the ER decided that I wanted to broaden my horizons and become a nurse. My uncle used to work here in Physical Therapy and recommended me for a job as an aide in Physical Therapy. I did that for four years before becoming a night shift nurse on the general surgery floor eight months ago. It was an adjustment for my sleep/wake cycle, but I like working three 12-hour shifts a week. The people here make this place so amazing. I can depend on them, I enjoy working with them and I look forward to coming to work with them. This fall I’m planning to go back to school for my bachelor’s degree and eventually I’d like to get my master’s degree, but I’m still getting my feet wet and I’m happy where I am.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
They are why I wanted to become a nurse. When I’ve been able to touch someone through my work it makes me feel good. It’s so important to listen to patients, about their pain, issues in their life or how they’ll cope with their condition - regardless of whether or not you come up with a solution. I like it when I can instill in someone a sense of confidence.
Can you give an example of a memorable sacred encounter you’ve had here?
The other night I had a patient who’d had surgery for bladder cancer. He’s a young guy, and he’d just had a urostomy, with his prostate and bladder removed. I’d been told he was irritable and hard to deal with. His blood pressure was high, probably largely due to anxiety. I asked him what was going on and he began telling me about his pain, his inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement, and other problems he was having. I gave him some positives about what he had to look forward to, without any false encouragement. I sensed that he was feeling things were out of his control, so I tried helping him begin taking part in his care. For example, I would ask him if he’d like to get up now, and if he would like something for his nausea. Last night he wasn’t my patient but I stopped by to see him anyway. I was glad to hear him tell me that his pain was under control and he was having bowel movements. His blood pressure was lower too.
Mic Mic Pamao, R.N., Blood Donor Center
Tell us about your role with St. Joseph Hospital.
I started working here four years ago in Pediatric Dialysis, then transferred to the Blood Donor Center. Every day is different. We see about 20 patients each day, and I try to make every person’s experience a positive, holistic one. As a nurse I’ve always dealt with sick people, but here in the Blood Donor Center the donors/patients we see are healthy. People who come in to donate blood are very special, altruistic people.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
The Blood Donor Center is often the first encounter here for a patient who is scheduled for surgery. We are the face of St. Joseph Hospital, and do our best to make a good first impression. I explain processes to help ease their anxiety and give them more confidence going into surgery.
We observe each person very closely. I’m a donor too, so I can empathize with them. When we have a difficult patient I think of him or her as a challenge. If they are afraid of needles I can offer them a lidocaine (numbing) shot. If I’m working with first-time donors, I’ll make conversation to divert their attention. I’ve had patients who finish donating blood and say, “I didn’t even feel that!”
Jayne Ptacek, R.N., Clinical Nurse II, Maternal Fetal Testing
Jayne, please tell us about your role at St. Joseph Hospital.
I came to St. Joseph Hospital in 1980 as a labor & delivery nurse. In 1987 I came to work in this department. Before we moved to our current, beautiful offices in the Pavilion we were in the 1201 building. I always look forward to coming to work. We’re like a family here and I love the people I work with.
We monitor high-risk pregnancies, such as those with gestational diabetes, chronic hypertension, pregnancy induced hypertension, postdates (overdue moms), pre-term labor, patients with decreased fetal movement, or moms with previous stillborn babies.
A typical day is 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and during that time we see about 45 scheduled patients. They repeat every three or four days, so we really get to know them and their families. We’ve often seen patients who come back for three or more pregnancies. I really like the fact that in our department we get to know our patients and develop a rapport with them. I try to go see them after they deliver here and they tell me all about their delivery experiences. They like to come back here and show off their babies.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
On any given day, for that patient, making a difference in her life. It’s not uncommon for a younger expectant patient to have a parent die suddenly, and they come to us very worked up. We let them cry about the loss they’re experiencing and calm them down. They’re really thankful for that.
Sometimes patients confuse our office, which is 805, with 850, which is a cardiologist’s office. We recently had an elderly lady with a cane come in looking for her doctor’s office. I took her down to suite 850. The next week she came back in to tell us, “I wish I could be pregnant again just to come in your office. The nurses are so nice here.”
Robin Usher, R.N., Case Management
Robin, what’s your career background?
I came to the Case Management department 11 years ago after working for the St. Joseph Hospital IPA we had at that time. I used to come on site to see my patients and got to know people here. When that IPA closed (Executive Director of Case Management) Pat Brydges offered me a position here. I hope to stay here until I retire.
What does a Sacred Encounter mean to you?
It’s a significant moment or event between two or more people that bonds you together. It’s memorable and outside of the day-to-day routine.
Can you recount a Sacred Encounter you’ve had here?
A coworker and I had a Sacred Encounter this past summer that I feel really shows the impact we can have on each other. The Case Management department is here 24/7, including holidays and weekends. On the 4th of July there were three of us on duty. Holidays and weekends can be crazy, with everyone wanting to be discharged, so we are very busy. We start our day on the 4th floor of the Sister Francis Dunn Building, and then go to the hospital to see patients. We take lunch when we can get to it, which on that day was late in the afternoon.
My coworker and I happened to both be in our own offices eating lunch. I was on the phone calling a pharmacy to find a certain medication a patient needed before they could be sent home. I looked up and my coworker was standing in the doorway, pointing at her chest. At first I thought she was telling me she’d found the medication. When she pulled off her lab coat I realized she was choking. After doing the Heimlich procedure on her twice, a big piece of chicken came up. When it was over, we were both a bit shaken up and sat down for a few minutes, then both of us were so busy that we just went back to what we were doing. Everything had happened so fast and yet went so smoothly. Even though I’ve been a nurse for 30 years, that was the first time I ever performed the Heimlich on a person, rather than a mannequin.
The next day it dawned on my coworker that if I hadn’t been there, she could have died. There was no one else in our 4th floor offices that day. What were the odds of us both being here having lunch at the same time? It seemed to be a divine intervention. People really do need each other and I’m thankful I was there for her. It really bonded us. The next Monday she bought an angel and gave it to me with a beautiful note expressing how grateful she was. She wrote, “I guess you could say we had a Sacred Encounter."
Amy Waunch, R.N., MSN, FNP, CEN, Advance Practice Nurse, Emergency Department
Amy, what’s your history with St. Joseph Hospital?
I came to the Emergency Department in 1999 as a new graduate RN. After completing my MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) and becoming an FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) I went to work in the outpatient setting of a private practice for some doctors on staff here. I was rounding on patients in the hospital and stayed on as per diem staff. I found I really missed the acute care setting, so when my current position was posted in 2004 I applied for it. I like that I’m able to function in many roles, providing direct patient care and serving as a mentor, educator and consultant for staff. I enjoy interacting with the medical staff, having a team approach to every patient and process in the ED, and working in a setting that provides acute care for a wide variety of patients.
You’ve been instrumental in initiating our soon-to-be accredited Stroke Program. What was your role?
About four years ago I attended a lecture at another hospital that sparked my interest in stroke care. I realized that we had the capabilities here to aggressively treat and improve the quality of life for patients suffering from acute stroke.With (CNO) Katie Skelton’s encouragement I made it my goal to develop an Acute Stroke Program at St. Joseph Hospital. I paired up with another Advance Practice Nurse (who is no longer here) and performed a gap analysis to identify steps needed to meet the objective of becoming a Stroke Center. We then presented this gap analysis along with the financial impact to members of the hospital’s executive management team (EMT), ultimately obtaining their approval to move forward with the development of our stroke program. I collected data, wrote order sets, policies and protocols in collaboration with other stakeholders, as well developed a Stroke Neuro Unit and a Hyper Acute Stroke Team. Once we were ready for a Stroke Program Coordinator I helped mentor Jodi Caggiano in that new role. Now I serve as the point person for stroke in the ER, just as there are stroke champions in the other departments.
Receiving our stroke accreditation is validation of all I’ve worked for. In the past few years we’ve been able to preserve brain function in more stroke patients due to increased collaboration between our neurologists, interventional radiologists and emergency physicians. Staff throughout the hospital can better recognize the signs of stroke and get the patient the time-sensitive care needed. We also have greater awareness by the Medical Staff and Nursing of the advanced treatment options such as intra-arterial thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. Finally, the hospital has provided education to our community on the signs of stroke and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
It is seeing the person as a whole comprised of parts. In healthcare there is an obvious focus on treating a person’s physical parts. However, a sacred encounter occurs when in addition to treating the physical, we assess and treat an individual’s dignity and ability to function independently.
Can you recall a memorable Sacred Encounter?
I was walking down the first floor hallway recently when I heard a cry for help. An elderly visitor had fallen and was lying on her side on the floor. I knew she could have a problem with her heart that caused her to fall and/or a hip fracture or neck injury as a result of her fall. However, I could tell that more than being in pain she was embarrassed to be on the ground as people were crowding around. She wanted to get up and kept saying “I am so embarrassed.” I asked another employee to activate the ED Response Team so I would have adequate assistance in transporting her to the ED. As we waited for the team’s arrival I sat down beside her and at eye level and reassured her she had nothing to be embarrassed about. I even got her to laugh as I shared a past embarrassing moment of my own. An hour later I went back to see her. She was sitting up and was fine, but anxious to go and be with her husband, who had just had surgery. She thanked me profusely for making her feel so much better, and was very grateful that I understood how she felt.
Mary Welly, R.N., BC, BSN, Clinical Educator for Med/Surg
Mary, congratulations on your 40th anniversary with St. Joseph Hospital this year! Please tell us about your history.
I arrived here from Ohio in 1968 and came to work as a Med/Surg staff nurse, then did PM shift supervision. I’ve been in Clinical Education since 1978. In this position I enjoy the clinical aspects of working with the nursing staff and providing needed education. The staff looks to Clinical Education for support, and education is very valued by this hospital.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
It’s those special moments, such as when a staff member expresses appreciation for what we’ve offered on the unit or in the classroom, or we’re able to respond to their needs.
Can you recall a memorable Sacred Encounter?
Recently one of our newer employees, a new graduate, inquired about opportunities for advanced education. We had a conversation about what she wanted to do and what schools were available. She later came back and indicated that the advice I gave her was very helpful and said she was enrolled for fall in school to pursue her BSN. I appreciated her coming back to share that with me.
Donna Zhe, L.V.N., Leave of Absence Coordinator
Donna, what is your history with St. Joseph Hospital?
I’ve worked here for 30 years. For 22 years I worked on Med/Surg as an LVN. In 2000 I was ready for a change and came to Employee Health. At that time they created my position of coordinating the leave of absence process. When I started with the hospital it was a much smaller family, and I do miss that. But the hospital does have the same caliber of people who are very kind and caring.
At any time there are 150 to 170 people on a leave of absence. It’s a fun job to be able to meet them and help out. It’s why I went into Nursing in the first place, and there’s a lot of satisfaction in it.
What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?
Treating people the way you want to be treated.
Can you recall a memorable Sacred Encounter here?
I’d say I have sacred encounters with 99 percent of the people I work with on a daily basis. Recently I helped an employee through the LOA process who had to go to Thailand and care for her father who was ill. She brought me back a gift. I was really touched that she thought of me.