By Matthew Cyr
Mimi Bernardin, RN, BSN
Has been a nurse for 8 years; the last 4 in the Emergency Department
What do you do in the ED?
Depending on the day, I may be the charge nurse, the triage nurse,
or a staff nurse. As the triage nurse, I’m the first person
to see patients when they come into the ED. I perform a physical
assessment, which includes taking vital signs, determining level
of acuity for each patient and prioritizing care accordingly. On
an average day we see about 200 kids, and treat everything from
traumas and psychiatric issues to gastrointestinal and respiratory
problems.
Have you always worked in the ED?
No, when I started at Children’s about six years ago I worked
on 9 East and 10 East, which are general pediatric units.
What’s different about working in the ED?
Although I take care of patients with a broader range of illnesses
in the ED, the time spent with each patient and family is much shorter.
An ED nurse has to have quick assessment and clinical decision making
skills. Sometimes within minutes of meeting a patient, an IV has
to be placed and medications administered. Prioritizing care quickly
and effectively is essential.
What do you like most about your job?
I really enjoy the patient and family interaction I get as a staff
nurse. Despite the fast pace, I can develop a relationship with
patients and help them through their ED visit. We all want to make
a difference, and in the ED you only have a short time to do it.
So I try to recognize the unique needs of each patient and make
the ED visit as smooth as possible.
>> BEGINNING
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To support
nursing at Children’s, contact Cindy Zilch in the Children’s
Hospital Trust at (617) 355-2416 or cindy.zilch@chtrust.org.
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