Operating Room Nurse Video: Sharp Chula Vista

A nurse helps ease anxiety for patients and their loved ones at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center.

For More Information: Find a Sharp-affiliated doctor or learn more about Sharp Chula Vista.

Transcript

Sam Minero, RN, Operating Room: This morning we’re doing an open-heart procedure, and we’re also doing a major spine surgery. And some total joint procedures. My job is to orchestrate everything. This is our open-heart room and we currently have a procedure in progress. There’s eight people in there taking care of one patient. When you go out to meet a new patient, and they want to know if someone is going to take care of them, and make them feel like they are the most important person of the day.

Sam: Hi, how are you? My name’s Sam. I’m sorry I’m happy but, that’s my job. [Laughing] How did this happen?

Male Patient: Oh, I was playing with our dog and I fell over him and I smacked my arm on the concrete. I got up and my arm was just like, crooked. So I came in screaming, “Mom!”

Sam: Man. I mean I’ve broken my finger, but that’s about it, and it wasn’t anything like this.

You have to be genuine. You spend a little bit of extra time with them, instead of going off and doing other things. We’re going to take good care of you today. You know, I remember you telling me that you’re a little nervous. Actually that’s very normal.

You know they’re scared, you know they have tons of questions. And you put yourself, as much as you can, in their shoes. My mom worked at a very small hospital in El Centro, and sometimes we would have to go and spend the night with my mom cause we didn’t have a babysitter. So, I always knew that this is what I wanted to do.

This is the life link. This is what I tell family members that I will answer personally to let them know how their loved one’s doing. ‘Cause for the patient, while they’re in surgery, it’s quick — before they know it they’re awake. But for the family members, they’re the ones that are sitting out in the lobby.

Christina, Patient's Mom: One of the two bones was completely separated. The other one was broken but still, you know, connected.

Sam: It’s not a job, it’s my dedication, it’s what I was meant to do. My name is Sam Minero, I’m the clinical lead at Sharp Chula Vista, main operating room.