CRNA’s Quick Thinking Leads to Service Hero Award

Sometimes, having the courage to say something in an uncomfortable situation can make a big difference. That’s what our newest CHI St. Vincent Service Hero Nicole Sanders, CRNA, recently did. Nicole was caring for a patient in the OR in front of a Joint Commission surveyor when she saw a potential safety problem that needed handling immediately. Here’s her nomination:

After witnessing an outstanding job of properly identifying the patient, participating in the time-out and inducing anesthesia, the surveyor was ready to leave. I began to lead him out the door to the main corridor, which is a break in protocol. Nicole immediately spoke up – shouted, to be honest – “STOP! DON’T GO OUT THAT DOOR!” Nicole did the right thing and exemplified not only her integrity, but also the culture of safety at the Infirmary. It didn’t hurt that she also really impressed the Joint Commission survey team.

In a moment that required somebody to quickly step up, Nicole took charge. We thank her for her courage and quick thinking! Don’t forget, you can nominate a coworker who goes above and beyond for a Service Hero honor! Click the link here to fill out the form.