Coming Back After Life Support

Our nurse manager, Julie Kirby, RN, OCN, has been an oncology nurse for nearly 25 years and impresses me every day. In 2016, Julie underwent a surgical procedure and ended up in the ICU on life support for weeks. We were all fearing that we would lose her. Not only did she make a recovery, but she has returned to nursing and manages our chemotherapy department.

I have seen Julie perform CPR in emergencies, manage life-threatening reactions, calm and comfort patients in their darkest hours, recognize medical conditions that others have missed; the list is endless.

Julie embodies nursing. Aside from the medical issues, she recognizes when someone is cold and will offer a warm blanket, a beverage, crackers, all with a smile, never making patients feel like they are a bother.

Julie is also our little bulldog that will go head-to-head with leadership and physicians for patient care and our staff. If a patient needs a liaison to the doctor, Julie never hesitates to address the issue and advocate for our very sick patients.

As a manager, Julie always treats us with respect and kindness, always does her best to accommodate our needs and jumps in anywhere she is needed without having to be asked. Honestly, Julie is the humblest individual and the first person I would call on if I needed a nurse.

I believe Julie Kirby exemplifies the very definition of a nurse — not for the title or the recognition, but because it is what she was created to be.

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