Nurse reflects on defining moments in care
It has been said that in life we do not remember days, we remember moments. Tom Schubnell, RN, MSN, whose 30-year career at Children's Memorial has been filled with many unforgettable moments with patients and their families, agrees.
Schubnell held a variety of nursing positions before he became administrator of surgical and emergency care in 2003. He is admired both for his nursing expertise and for his ability to empathize and connect with children and families on a personal level. “Earning the trust of a child or parent requires honesty and compassion,” says Schubnell. “It's important to acknowledge their feelings and let them know that it is okay to be emotional.”
He remembers approaching a father who was anxiously pacing the hospital hallway. Although the two had never met, just one validating question from Schubnell prompted the man to embrace him and freely express his emotions. He shared that he had not allowed himself to show fear or worry in front of his family because he believed that he must appear “strong” at all times. In this moment, the father was able to express his feelings about his child's illness for the first time and subsequently receive the support he needed.
“You can share five minutes with someone that remains rewarding and memorable for a lifetime,” says Schubnell. “We are privileged to have so many of those moments at Children's Memorial.”
“You can share five minutes with someone that remains rewarding and memorable for a lifetime,” says Schubnell.
As an administrator, Schubnell has fewer “official” interactions with patients than when he was a full-time nurse, but he seeks out meaningful moments with families as often as possible. “I will always be a nurse, first and foremost,” he says. “If I have a rough day, all I have to do is watch a playgroup in the Janice and Kimberly Brown Family Life Center and I am instantly inspired.”
To Schubnell, one of the most moving moments occurs just before a child is taken into the operating room for surgery. “In that moment, a parent hands over their most precious gift and entrusts our caregivers to bring their child back to them, safe and whole,” he says. “At Children's Memorial, there are 15,000 moments like that every year.”
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Not surprisingly, Schubnell regularly receives cards and letters from former patients and grateful families whose lives he has touched. “No matter how many years have passed since I have seen them, I can still feel the moments we shared.”
Children's Memorial Hospital seeks philanthropic funding to enhance its programs and services. As a proud partner of the Children's Miracle Network (CMN), all funds raised in the Chicago area through CMN also benefit Children's Memorial. To find out how your support can help the hospital better serve children and families, please contact the Children's Memorial Foundation at 773.880.4237 or Foundation@childrensmemorial.org.