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| CONSUMMATE NURSE: Ellen Hilsabeck, RN, receives a Pillar Award from Mary Murphy, MSN, RN, vice president/chief nursing officer at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, La Grange, IL, for her leadership abilities. Before receiving the award Hilsabeck helped a child during an airplane medical emergency. Photo courtesy Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital |
Flexibility may well be the key to having a long and successful nursing career. Ellen Hilsabeck, RN, a nurse of 42 years, proves that both on and off the job.
In May, while traveling by airplane to California to visit family, she was called upon to help care for a patient during an in-flight emergency. Reacting calmly to the situation and making do with what was at hand, Hilsabeck demonstrated the same flexibility that helped win her a prestigious leadership award at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital where she works.
Her Year
It has been an eventful year for Hilsabeck. A charge nurse and clinical coordinator of the day surgery unit at the La Grange, IL, hospital, Hilsabeck was recognized in June at Adventist Midwest Health's development institute with a Pillar Award. Her day surgery unit received exceptionally high scores in physician, patient and employee satisfaction, one of the goals measured for the award.
"Ellen is an extraordinary leader and member of our staff," said Mary Murphy, MSN, RN, La Grange's vice president/chief nursing officer. "Not only does she provide high quality care, but she continuously encourages her staff and facilitates growth."
In fact, Hilsabeck proclaims the most rewarding part of her job is interacting with her staff of 14, including 11 nurses. "Being a coordinator and charge nurse, I have the ability to work with my team clinically.to help them work with patients. I am so proud of them."
Her team has many duties, including admitting and prepping patients for major surgery, handling pre- and post-care for cardiac catheterization patients, and running pre- and postsurgery pain clinics several days a week.
Hilsabeck believes one key to her success and longevity as a nurse is the place where she works. She has been at La Grange since 1971 when she joined the staff as an emergency room nurse. In 1985, she transferred to the day surgery unit, where she's worked since.
"When you're with a hospital that really focuses on patient care, you can grow in your environment and in your nursing career," she said. "You also have to support change. You have to be flexible."
Demonstrating Flexibility
In May, Hilsabeck displayed some of that flexibility as well as quick thinking. She and her husband were on a Southwest Airlines flight to visit their daughter and family when a call came over the intercom asking for medical assistance for another passenger. She stepped forward and was asked to prove her credentials. Luckily she had a wallet-size copy of her nursing license in her purse.
A 4-year-old girl on the plane was suffering from an allergic reaction to a peanut she'd eaten. To add to the situation, the child's mother was traveling with six other children about 2 years apart, ranging in age from infant on up. The mother had an EpiPen and over-the-counter allergy medication, and the plane's crew had a stethoscope and some other equipment.
"When you're away from your normal situation, you have to make do and be flexible," said Hilsabeck, who helped calm mother and child, told the mother what to do, and monitored the child's condition. The girl had edema and was upset, but there were no respiratory problems. However, "boy, when you're in an airplane, you think about what you're going to do if." Hilsabeck commented.
Outcomes
As in the hospital setting, a good outcome is the goal. The plane made an emergency landing in Missouri and the child was taken to a hospital and transportation organized for the mother and her children.
"I was happy to help," said Hilsabeck, believing she did what any other person would do in the same situation. "Though the experience was scary, the little girl felt much better by the time we landed in Kansas City and eventually made a full recovery."
Not the First Time
This actually is the second time in her nursing career Hilsabeck reacted to an emergency outside the hospital. Years ago, when her children were in high school, a call was broadcast that someone in the bleachers needed medical attention at a state swim meet Hilsabeck was attending.
"This man had arrested; back then you gave mouth to mouth," she said. A doctor had also responded, and they both administered CPR together, with her doing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while he did chest compressions. The man survived and later acknowledged Hilsabeck's act by sending her flowers.
"Providing kind care" regardless of the setting is really what Hilsabeck believes nursing is all about.
Lisa Monroe is a frequent contributor to ADVANCE.
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