Nursing
John Carr RN works in the PACU. John was the recipient of the Nursing Department’s Clinical Excellence Award in 2010. We sat down with John to learn more about him.
What Made you choose Children’s Hospital?
I was put on this earth to take care of kids. Whether it be in Boston or Haiti. There is no better place in the world than Children’s for me. I was always a kid protector. My mom was very sick throughout her life with cancer. I was the oldest in my family and I needed to protect my siblings. Throughout high school I was involved in project Head Start. This was a project that helped kids. Even in the Military, I always worked with kids.
What roles have you had at Children’s?
I started on on Division 28 in 1978. At that time that was orthopedics, general surgery and medicine, I spent 9 years there. When the new building opened I moved to 9 West. This floor was organ transplant and general surgery where I worked in the role of Clinical Coordinator and Preceptor. After 9 West I moved on to become a part of the development of the Short Stay Unit, and I spent 2-3 years doing this. Then I moved on to PACU where I became Clinical Coordinator for 5 years and now I am Staff Nurse 3, Nurse Educator, Simulator Coordinator for the PACU program, I conduct SERS (Safety Event Reporting System) report follow up, and am also a CPR and PALS instructor.
I also do a lot in the community teaching CPR, being a special Olympics camp counselor each year and biking to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis, The Jimmy Fund and Beyond 11th.
I was put on this earth to take care of kids. Whether it be in Boston or Haiti. There is no better place in the world than Children?s for me.
What are your goals for the future?
See my children graduate from college. For myself, I would like to explore the possibility of continuing my education from home through online schooling. I owe it to my wife to spend as much time at home as possible because I have been very busy with other things in my career.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Conversations with parents, peers, kids and patients. I like to explain things in detail and teach each parent and patient at their level. I grab every opportunity to be a resource from the start and teach each member on an individual and group basis. I use props to simplify learning for all.
This hospital also provides autonomy. Where else are you a part of a committee to interview the VP of Nursing?
How does your job in the PACU fit in with your life?
It fits in perfectly. I have time to follow up with patients and families.
Patients and their families have diverse experiences. I help to bridge them to a better experience here at Children’s. I distribute newspapers to families who have been here for a while and have no way to get them.
What surprises you?
Is there anything in nursing that surprises you? Except – I always realize how lovely it is working for this hospital. I have seem some variables in the level of autonomy in different institutions. Here, we all work as a team to better the outcome for patients at all levels.
