Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
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John D. Kelly IV, MD CUTTING REMARKS 1 3 8 O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4 Lessons From My Favorite Nurse After 27 years of marriage, Dr. Kelly's wife is still his greatest teacher. I lucked out. I married the prettiest and best nurse in Philly. My wife, Marie, and I met in the ICU in 1984. There I was, a nervous ortho intern about to begin the most taxing rotation of my required general surgery year — vascular service. I felt woefully unprepared, since I spent my last year of medical school devoted to easy, irrelevant rotations, like derm, ophtho and my favorite, radiology in Ireland. Internship was indeed a rude awakening and there I stood, immersed in fear in the SICU (surgical intensive care unit) about to face some very SICK patients. When my chief resident told me to shock the patient starting at 50 joules, I began to feel cold and clammy. The only shock to be experienced was mine. The nurse at bed 6 After my apoplexy subsided, and I regained control of my bodily functions, I noticed a tall and statuesque nurse in the background, gently ministering to a sick patient. From that moment I realized that the SICU did have its advantages. Closer inspection revealed beautiful blue eyes and a smile that Elizabeth Taylor would die for. After many subsequent encounters — some not medically necessary — with this vision, I quickly learned of her clinical acumen. Her skill in keeping even the most debilitated patients stable was remarkable. In 2 short weeks, I received a tutorial in fluid, respirator and acid base management from the nurse at bed 6. Her skill was so remarkable that whenever I had a question concerning patient management, I turned to my new friend for advice. She was very diplomatic in rendering counsel. Rather than saying "Dr. Kelly, you idiot, this patient is in CHF," she would calmly state: "Dr. Kelly, I think 20 mg of SOULMATES Marie Sakosky-Kelly, RN, has always kept Dr. Kelly flying straight. Lynda Simon, RN