Celebrated in 2015 from May 6-12
By Aric Sleeper
Nurses are united by an inherent sense of compassion, which drives them to devote their lives to helping others. Dominican Hospital has over 600 nurses, working hard to keep Santa Cruz healthy.
“Care, compassion, competence, communication, and commitment are the values that underpin our professional care at Dominican,” says Juana Castillo, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services. “I am moved and inspired by the nurses that I have met here over the past five years, and their commitment to providing the best possible care for our community.”
“A core of empathy and compassion for our patients is key,” says Marsha Moreno, nurse practitioner at Dominican Hospital. “We are often the common thread in a patient’s stay, so showing compassion and building trust is very important; with colleagues too. To be able to work as a team is vital.”
National Nurses Week is celebrated each year from May 6-12 to honor nurses across the country, and highlight their dedication to helping the ill and injured through the process of recovery.
“Marsha is a great example of nursing professionalism and best practices. She’s smart, collaborative, and a joy to work with. She represents the very best in nursing today and in the future,” says Sarah Edmundson, Director of Cardiovascular Services at Dominican Hospital.
Marsha got an early start to her nursing career when she volunteered at a community hospital in high school. Experiencing the behind-the-scenes view of hospital operations drew her into the field, and she hasn’t looked back since. Soon after receiving her bachelor’s degree, Marsha became part of a specialized liver and kidney unit where she learned to stay on her toes, and developed a discipline of constant learning that still helps her today.
“It was intense,” says Marsha. “It was a lot to learn in a very short amount of time, but it was necessary because these were very critical patients. You had to be sharp, and on top of your game, and study outside of your daily shift. It was a steep learning curve coming right out of school.”
Even after 14 years in the field, Marsha continues to commit herself to the education of not only herself, but also other nurses through her role in cardiovascular services. “There’s new technology, and new advancements, new techniques, and new information that is constantly coming out,” says Marsha. “And I love to learn, so that I never feel stagnant. It keeps me going and keeps me challenged.”
Although Marsha’s clinical education position takes up most of her time, she maintains her role as a staff nurse so that she can stay in touch with the patient experience. For her, guiding a patient through the recovery process is one of the more rewarding aspects of her job.
“Working in the intensive care unit, you see patients that are very ill, and it’s great to see them walk back in to the unit with their loved ones after they’ve recovered,” says Marsha. “It’s so encouraging, and so rewarding.”
For Michele Finch, nurse navigator in Dominican Hospital’s Katz Cancer Resource Center, bringing comfort and support to patients, especially those who have been recently diagnosed with a serious condition, is the most rewarding aspect of being a nurse. “I make sure to let them know that there is always someone available to talk to, and that they’re never alone,” says Michele.
Michele has devoted more than 30 years to the field of nursing at Dominican Hospital. Over the years, she has worn many different hats, which lends to her current role as a nurse navigator. “I’m a lot nurse, a little bit social worker, and a little bit counselor,” says Michele. “We try to be a single point of contact for patients, whether they need a community resource, help with preparing food, or transportation. You have to be able to collate all the resources in the community, but it’s not just handing out information. You have to be warm, and understand the best approach for each person. There’s a lot of listening — a lot of listening.”
A typical day for Michele is never quite that typical, as new patients with unique cases enter the cancer resource center every day, but not knowing exactly what challenges the day will bring keeps her excited to come into work each morning. “You never really know what you’re day is going to be like,” says Michele. Michele wanted to recognize all the nurses at the Dominican Infusion Center. “They work so hard. I am lucky to have great colleagues.”
Being a nurse for more than three decades has taught Michele to plan for the future, but live for the moment, and although her job can be overwhelming at times, she wouldn’t have it any other way. “There has never been a day that I’ve regretted being a nurse,” Michele says.