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Welcome to Threads Between Us, a podcast by University Medical Center of El Paso.
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We discovered old photo albums in a storage unit at the hospital, and it took us on a journey through decades of stories.
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Stories of our healthcare workers and patients, families, and the threads woven throughout that connect us in ways we didn't even realize.
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We're excited to take this journey with you and discover where these threads lead.
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And welcome back to Threads Between Us.
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For our last episode, we heard from UMC traumatic brain injury patient Jaclyn Pellicott, whose life changed forever.
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And we spoke with one of the nurses who was the first to care for her, Nancy McGrail.
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And Nancy joins us today.
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Nancy, welcome.
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Thank you.
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We're excited to have you here today, and we talked about those threads that continued to lead us through healthcare.
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We're connected to our patients, to family members, and other healthcare workers.
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And Nancy, we heard from you on the last episode, and you're just going to carry us through, and we're excited to hear about your story.
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So you originally started in the emergency department.
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You moved to women's services, and then you now work in patient experience.
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Now you're connected to so many different patients and other coworkers, and we're excited to hear your story today.
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Thanks for having me.
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And so, Nancy, can you just take me back?
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33 years, I believe, is how long you told me that you've worked in healthcare.
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Can you take me back to the beginning?
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What first inspired you to become a nurse?
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What led you to the emergency department?
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Well, I'm going to age myself.
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So the television show Emergency from the 1970s, Dixie was my idol.
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She was the charge nurse in the emergency room.
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So that is the reason I went into be a nurse.
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I cannot remember a time when I didn't want to be a nurse.
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Like I had no plan B.
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It was to be a nurse, or I didn't know else I could do.
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So that's as a small child.
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And you originally are not from El Paso.
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Can you tell us where you grew up, maybe where you first started your career in nursing?
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Yes, I grew up in West Central Illinois on a grain and livestock farm in a very small rural community, about 600 people called Kirkwood, Illinois.
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And I went to college in Canton, Missouri and graduated there in 1993.
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My first nursing job was in Quincy, Illinois.
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I worked on a med surge oncology unit.
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And then after about a year and a half there, I moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and lived there and worked there as a nurse for 17 years.
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And was it anything like your TV show?
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Sometimes it can be.
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So I mean, no, it was it's I've done so many different areas.
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So I went from med surge, telemetry.
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I kind of came to ER mid-career.
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Um, so I'd been a nurse for a long time when I first came into the emergency department.
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That which I just kind of stumbled into it as I was a float pool nurse, and I got pulled to the ER one night, and I really liked it, and they really liked me.
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So they kept requesting me back, and I had a bunch of mentors that mentored me up to be an ER nurse.
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And then uh in 2010, I made the decision to go downtown Memphis, Tennessee, into one of our inner city emergency rooms.
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Um, I had been working in the suburbs, and I remember interviewing with the director and her being really puzzled why I was there since I worked in the suburbs.
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And she's like, Do you understand what kind of patients we have here?
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And I said, Yes, ma'am, that's why I'm applying.
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I said, All the critically injured get shipped down here.
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This is where I want to learn.
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So, and I worked there for almost two years before we moved to El Paso.
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And then, so how old were your sons when you moved to El Paso?
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They were 11, 10, and 7 in 2012.
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And so I actually was able to speak with one of your sons.
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And I believe he's your middle son, Hollis.
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Yes.
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And he had a message for you.
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He talked about that time.
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I asked him, you know, what memory about your mom really sticks out to you?
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And he said that you've inspired him throughout his entire life and his career.
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And he brought up that time when you all, when when your your husband was deployed.
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So I'm gonna play for you just a message from him.
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But the day that we have dropped my father off for his second tour of duty in Iraq, um, you know, her her getting us in the van and us driving all the way back to Memphis.
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Um her taking on that commitment to take care of three boys um who, you know, while my dad was on the other side of the plane.
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That that one um I kind of always think about it, always kind of pops up back into into my uh head every now and then.
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Uh just really her commitment and her hard work and um not only that, but her kind of bravery, I guess, you know, uh letting my dad go and do something like that.
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And so Nancy, did you I don't know if you knew that was a memory that that stuck with your son in that way.
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No, no, I didn't.
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I actually had pneumonia when I was driving them back to Memphis.
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I was in the ER the next day.
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So where you worked, it wasn't it?
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Yeah, I went to the ER I worked in.
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Yeah.
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So my husband, I think we drove back on a Saturday.
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I had a girlfriend come visit me on Sunday and take a look at me, and she took me straight to the ER.
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And then my um one of the physicians I worked with said, You need to be admitted.
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I said, I can't be.
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I don't have anyone at home.
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So he's like, I said, My mom's on her way.
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So this was she was still living at the time.
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So he got on the phone and talked to my mom and was like, Yeah, I need to make sure that you're gonna be here at least a week.
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And it was a crazy time.
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And that's probably something your boys might not even remember or know that.
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I just thought Pooh was visiting for that's what they called my mom, um, was visiting for a week.
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How great was that?
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So let's fast forward now to you moving to El Paso and starting to work at UMC.
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I know you mentioned when you were working in Memphis that you for those two years that you really got to experience a different kind of patient and traumas that were coming in.
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So can you talk about just how the transition was to El Paso coming to UMC and those first, I don't know if you can remember the memories, those first days, months arriving here.
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Yes.
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So Memphis, we called it the gun and knife show.
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So our traumas were predominantly penetrating.
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And when I came to El Paso, it was the exact opposite.
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There were more blunt traumas.
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So one of the things that I had to get used to is why were so many people falling off roofs?
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I didn't realize there was a thing called the swamp cooler.
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Because living in Tennessee, it's very humid.
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A swamp cooler would not work in Tennessee.
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Everyone had refrigerated air.
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So that was kind of odd that I was I finally asked one day, why are so many people falling off roofs?
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And they explained the difference to me in different cooling systems.
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Something so simple.
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And then building relationships, moving to a new city and your team members here.
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And I know I was able to speak with your friend and former coworker, Sarah Hereta, and she was telling me just about during that time what really stuck out to her was how you would advocate for other nurses and you would help them, even if maybe the emergency department wasn't the right fit for them.
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I'm gonna play for you something that she said.
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When I first started nursing, um, I think I graduated in 07, so it was like kind of like an eat your young kind of career.
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So when I was brought up, it was like, you know, sink or swim.
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If you weren't tough, the ER wasn't for you.
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So when I met Nancy and she became our assistant manager and our director, she had she exposed me to a whole nother view.
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She was like, hey, nursing isn't all about eating your young.
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You know, I want to see these girls do well.
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As a new grad, when you start in a level one, um, sometimes, you know, you're used to seeing the TV shows and you think it's gonna be so much fun.
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It's like Gray's Anatomy or like ER, and it ends up being a lot of work emotionally, physically.
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So they would, I would watch Nancy kind of mentored me.
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She, I was the assistant manager while she was the director.
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And she kind of showed me that hey, these these girls are are doing well.
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Um, they're this just isn't the environment for them.
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She would get with other directors, see what was open, um, talk with the nurses who were already in tears, thinking this is the end of my career, I shouldn't have been a nurse.
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And Nancy would actually work with the other departments, see what was open, mentor them, and say, hey, maybe the ER wasn't a fit for you, but there's an opening in medSearch, there's an opening in L D.
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And she was actually able to keep them in the UMC family.
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And years later, they were still working in the other departments, like total turnaround from tears and thinking that it was the end of their career.
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Nancy, how does it make you feel just to hear Sarah's perspective of that time?
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I didn't, I'm I didn't realize I made such an impression.
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Um, the thing about nursing is there are so many different areas of nursing.
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And just because it you don't have a good fit in ER or the ICU doesn't mean you're not going to be successful as a nurse.
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And Nancy, we talk about those connections that you make with your coworkers over time and you go through really traumatic things together.
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And I know during that period of time, 2018, 2019, you had a lot of pediatric cases that came in, and then it was August 3rd, and one of the pediatric cases hit really close to home for you.
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Can you just talk about that time and what that was like?
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Yes.
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So in 2018, at that time I was director and Sarah was nurse manager.
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On that day, April 20th, 2018, we're in the office, we hear a level one pediatric trauma um en route.
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And Sarah and I, hey, we're the pediatric experts here, went immediately to the trauma bay.
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And it was a very devastating head injury, pelvic injury.
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It was a a child had been struck by a truck on highway speed.
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And so um, and anytime you're in a situation, especially if it's pediatric, you're just pulling out all you're throwing everything in, the kitchen sink, everything.
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You're trying everything.
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What are we missing?
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What else can we do?
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And about 45 minutes into this very prolonged resuscitation of this child, I get someone tapping me on my shoulder and they're saying, This is so-and-so's son.
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And I realized it was one of my night shift nurses.
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And I went to Dr.
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Tyrock and I told him, This is so, this is her son.
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And we rallied and did everything we possibly could, but he unfortunately he passed away.
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So I I know she's en route to the hospital.
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She's been notified by school.
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And I don't know if you've been in the ED when you're in the trauma bay and you have to walk all the way to the front.
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Um they said she's here.
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So I had to walk through the ED.
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It was eerily quiet.
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Everyone knew what had happened in the trauma base.
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Everyone knew.
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And I'm walking and I see Robert, who's a nurse with Sarah.
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Uh, he's a psych psychiatric nurse practitioner now.
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And he's a really big man of faith.
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I always admired him for that.
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And I pulled him into this little hallway and I told him what had happened because he's passed away.
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Can you pray for me and give me strength?
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Because I have to go, I have to go tell her, right?
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Sorry, I'm emotional.
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Quick prayer.
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I went to the waiting room, got her, and we walked all the way back to the R zone.
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Didn't say much, and we get into the R zone, and she grabbed me and she said, Why is it so quiet?
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And I said, he's gone.
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So we just standing by the icing machine and she shoved me.
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She's like, You're a liar.
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And um we stepped in and took her to the bedside, and it was the worst day as a nurse leader, for sure.
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So and to go through that with someone that you cared about and knew personally, and to have to be the one to deliver that news to her.
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Yeah, I cannot even wrap my head around the strength that that took to do that.
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But then the strength that she had.
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You told me she came back to work.
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Yeah, she did.
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Um, and for her to have that resilience to come back was so like no one's allowed to have a bad day.
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If she's having an okay day, we're all having an okay day.
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Because she's had a bad day, she's had a the worst day of her life.
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So it personally impacted me.
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Like, hey, you're not allowed to feel sorry for yourself.
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Nuh-uh.
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If someone like that can go get through a tragedy like this, this minor inconvenience that's bothering you today is nothing.
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So and for you to say that that was one of the worst days in your career, to fast forward getting to reunite with her in a different way that was outside of the ED, outside of trauma, outside of that moment, but still within our hospital walls.
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Can you talk about that moment and how you were able to connect with her in that way?
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Yeah, she came and had three babies.
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So just to see, to support her as a new mom, you know, being a new mom is so exciting and it's such a special time.
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And just to be there to share that joy with her and to um see her little little ones, and she still shares pictures with me, and they're growing up so fast.
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But it was just such an honor and a privilege to care for her in a different way.
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Hey, this is a happy time.
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This is a happy occasion.
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We're celebrating life, we're celebrating a new life, and that that was really important too.
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It was special.
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And the timing of everything that you were, she was your nurse when you were in the emergency department.
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You were the one there that day to care for her son and fight for him, and to be the one to have to deliver that news to her, to then continue working with her in the emergency department, for you to then move to mother baby and be there at the time that she had her children.
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Can you just talk about the timing and the being where you're meant to be?
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Right.
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It's I yeah, I feel like there's divine intervention.
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Everything happens for a reason.
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You're placed here in this particular time for this particular reason.
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I truly believe in fate and things like that.
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And it was just a gift to me to to come full circle with her.
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And what message do you think you would like to share with other nurses, other healthcare workers to talk about your worst day?
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And there's lots of difficult days, but that there's light at the end of the tunnel, there's beautiful things still ahead.
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Can you just talk about that hope that's there?
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Yes.
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Um, what we nursing's so important.
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We are, we are the advocate for our patients, and we are the eyes and ears for the physicians, and we hold a huge amount of responsibility, and um we owe that to our patients.
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But it's it is such a fulfilling career.
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Um I always told my staff when I was over clinical units, if the decision you're making benefits the patient, you don't have to ask my permission.
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Does it benefit the patient and is it keep the patient safe?
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Yes, yes, proceed.
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Um, and that's just, you know, because patient safety is our number one, number one initiative here, all safety.
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Um, and but if it has a really positive impact on the patient as well, I'm all for that as well.
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So do you feel like that's an overall sentiment here at UMC?
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Well, we're the highest level of care in El Paso, and we're the highest level of care 200 and some mile radius.
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We're the only other level one is in Albuquerque, and I think the next one's Phoenix.
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Um so here we are in this this far west Texas town.
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We owe it to our not only to the Opaso citizens, but our neighbors to provide that care.
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And I think that's fantastic.
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Isn't it great to work for a hospital that doesn't turn any anyone away and who is considered, oh wow, you're bad, you need to go there.
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I mean, that's where I want to work.
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We're we're level four maternal as well, so we take all the complicated um maternal cases that other hospitals don't have the qualifications to care for.
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So we, you know, we've got our stroke program.
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We've got so many things to be proud of, and it's just like that's where I want to work.
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I want to work at the best place.
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I want to work at the highest level of care.
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And you always had that.
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You talked about when you were in Memphis that you were the same way.
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You wanted to be where you could care for the most critically injured patients.
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Where do you think that comes from from you?
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Is it your childhood, Nancy?
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Where did that where did that desire to help people come from?
00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.039
Well, I'm a bit of a busybody body and I'm nosy.
00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:35.839
Um so when someone we've had come in with a stroke, we'd treat them, we would stay, this is when I was in the suburban hospital, we would stabilize them and then we would fly them away.
00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:38.480
And I would be like, I wonder what happened.
00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:40.960
Like, I wanted to do more.
00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.720
Same way if they were a trauma.
00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:47.200
We would package them up, shh, fly them away, or the ambulance would take them away.
00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:50.880
And I thought, well, gosh, you know, they were going to Methodist downtown.
00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:53.839
I'm like, well, let me see if Methodist has any jobs.
00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.880
Let me look online.
00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.720
And sure enough, they did.
00:17:56.880 --> 00:18:04.880
And I applied, and that's that was really the almost two years I was there was really where I got my ER legs.
00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:10.240
Because we took care of strokes, uh, MBAs, traumas.
00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.359
We did it all.
00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:16.720
We there was a level one trauma center down the street from us that was always at capacity.
00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:23.519
So even though we weren't designated level one, we had we were a teaching facility like UMC, we had all the capacity.
00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:35.599
So we would take all of their overflow, unless it was a burn, because they they had an actual burn unit, but we were always taking their overflow because violent crime unfortunately is a thing in Memphis.
00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:42.960
So you would have, you know, a number of gunshot wounds, and we'd have to share them amongst the the trauma centers in downtown area.
00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:47.200
So, but yeah, I that's where I got my definitely got my ER legs.
00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:55.200
And is there a moment or was there something someone said to you during that time that just stuck with you that maybe carries you through today?
00:18:55.279 --> 00:19:02.720
Or I know when you came to UMC, Sarah was talking about you were an experienced nurse from Memphis coming in and you were willing to teach.
00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:12.079
And can you just talk about maybe was there someone in Memphis who was your mentor, or someone who said something to you that stuck with you over the years?
00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:16.319
One of the paramedics, it's the same situation in Memphis.
00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:23.440
We've had paramedics that would work for the fire department, or they and then they would come work at the hospital for extra shifts.
00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:31.359
And I remember, um, I cannot remember if it was my director or I think it might have been my director.
00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:33.119
I cannot remember who said this.
00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:41.279
But they said, if you see Nancy running, or if you see Nancy raising her voice, go, because it's bad.
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.200
She's the coolest one here.
00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:48.640
Like, not cool, like I'm cool, but she's the most cool, level-headed, does not panic.
00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:53.519
If she's asking for help, or if she's running, she's yelling, follow her, because it's bad.
00:19:53.839 --> 00:20:02.880
So I thought that was kind of I didn't realize that I had that trait, I guess, until someone pointed it out to me.
00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:07.680
And did you in any way in that moment, did it make you realize this is what I'm going to do?
00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.599
This is what you wanted to continue that.
00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:13.440
Did it make you feel because you were saying you're still getting your ER legs when you were in Memphis?
00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:16.400
Was that a moment of, oh hey, I I can do this?
00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.519
I'm in the right place.
00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.079
Yeah.
00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.359
I'm in the right place.
00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:21.519
And then you mentioned paramedic.
00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:32.000
We we visited with um Jaime Vasquez, who's a paramedic here at UMC, and you worked with him during August 3rd, during the shooting here in El Paso.
00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:35.359
And we spoke with him, and he actually said that you were one of the first people.
00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:42.480
You were the first person that actually answered the phone that day when he called and he was able to speak with you to tell you what was happening.
00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:48.000
And I do want to just play for you what he said about that day.
00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:58.880
We connected, she answered, and I and I told her Nancy the time, I don't I don't want to I don't want to get any kind of any kind of scare at you or anything, but uh we did have a shooting at Walmart.
00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.480
And there's multiple casualties.
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:03.920
I have no idea how many right now because the incident just got dispatched.
00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:13.119
And she was like, um, she said, okay, I'm gonna um I told her that way you can make your calls and prepare and be ready for them when they get there.
00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:19.119
And so hearing Jaime describe speaking to you on the phone, does it take you back to that moment?
00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:22.960
And you talked about if Nancy's yelling or running, you pay attention.
00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:27.279
Was did that instinct kicked in that day, or can you take us back to that day?
00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:30.319
I just jumped up and put my scrubs on and got in the car.
00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:33.359
And the phone was ringing the entire trip in.
00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:41.279
And I remember parking in the parking garage and people, myself included, sprinting to the to the hospital.
00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:44.319
And then getting inundated with calls from my staff.
00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.359
Do you need help?
00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.000
I'm here.
00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.119
Do you want me to come in?
00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.480
Do you want me to come in?
00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:50.960
Um, multiple phone calls.
00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.720
Dealing with the public.
00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.119
We had to set up a staging area for the public.
00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:58.400
The Mexican consulate came, wanted to speak to me.
00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.839
He's like, I know you have citizenship.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.039
Of minor, you know, there's Mexican citizens that have been involved.
00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:05.039
But everyone was under a trauma name.
00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:11.279
We didn't know who we had them registered as trauma, you know, whatever they are.
00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:13.759
Um, so we weren't really sure who anyone was.
00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:23.680
I mean, we knew who we were treating, but we didn't exactly know, yes, that person in trauma bay five is this person, um, because we have to do that emergency registration.
00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:26.559
So yeah, it was for it's it was crazy.
00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:29.119
It was in insanity.
00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:42.319
And then later in the evening, putting back the trauma bays back together with the paramedics and the tech, we just went from trauma bay to trauma bay and restocked and cleaned up, and it was phenomenal.
00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:44.799
And were you with Jaime that day?
00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.319
Yeah, he had his hat on.
00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:48.960
I'll never forget he was still working.
00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:52.960
He got off shift with the fire department and then continued to work in the ED.
00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:55.440
And I remember him having his baseball cap on backwards.
00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.440
So I thought that was so funny.
00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:59.920
And we he just he didn't miss a beat.
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:06.000
He was in his fire uniform, and he just, you know, came in and helped, and because he was already there.
00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:09.200
So he just jumped in after shift and and was helping.
00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:15.279
And he told me that that experience inspired him to come full time at UBC.
00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:18.720
He felt that that was where he was most needed.
00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:30.480
And when we talk about being at the right place at the right time and the moments that connect us all together, and I go back to Memphis, Nancy, just from what you told me.
00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:34.880
Could could she believe what you have gone through and what you have overcome?
00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:45.119
I just I want to ask you if there's just anything you think younger Nancy would would say about if she could hear these stories and hear what you've done.
00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:51.200
I wouldn't believe it if you told me because I never intended to get into nursing leadership.
00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:54.559
I was very content being a bedside nurse in the ED.
00:23:54.880 --> 00:24:04.640
Um, when the opportunity came to go into leadership 10 years ago, it was my husband, Patrick, who really encouraged me because we had always moved around for his career.
00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:12.160
He had a corporate career, and the then he would always had his officer career in the the New Mexico National Guard.
00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:16.960
He's which I am happy to say he is Colonel, Patrick, Colonel McGraw.
00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:26.160
Um, so back when this opportunity to be in nursing leadership in the ED, he really pushed me and encouraged me and said, you need to go for it.
00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.680
The boys are getting older.
00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.160
You've put your career on hold for me.
00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:35.759
Now it's you, now it's time for you to put your career at the forefront.
00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:39.519
And the boys are older, they don't need you, they don't need a babysitter.
00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.759
This take it, go for it.
00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.720
And I did.
00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:46.160
And you've inspired your boys over the years.
00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:55.200
I know I got to speak with Hollis, and we heard from him, and he talked about just your strength, and he said that you always show up for him, no matter what.
00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:58.400
And that he said you're always on his side, always on his team.
00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:03.440
And that's the same sentiment that I've heard from every nurse and everyone that I've spoken to about you.
00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:09.359
And I know Sarah brought up those instances that you helped nurses find their place in the hospital.
00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:14.400
So, what would you say you would like your legacy to be or what you would like to leave behind?
00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.079
Wow.
00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:19.920
Um, I always forgot to mention I was always on his case too.
00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:32.720
Just that um that I'm an advocate and I believe in nurses, and I feel like there's a place for everyone in nursing.
00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:38.960
And there um just that it costs nothing to care for people.
00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:42.640
It costs nothing to be kind.
00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:47.759
And um, like I said, it it comes back to you tenfold.
00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:58.559
So I truly believe the kinder I am, the more I mentor, the more I volunteer, that it's only gonna benefit me in in the aftermath.
00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:01.759
And something you said to me, Nancy, has stuck with me.
00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:04.079
I even wrote it down when you mentioned it to me.
00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:07.279
You said, the more you give of yourself, the more you get back.
00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:09.279
I believe that 100%, yes.
00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:13.920
And it sounds like that has been the motto of your of your career.
00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:14.880
So far it's working.
00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.319
Someone stick with the plan.
00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:19.200
So well, Nancy, we appreciate you so much.
00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:22.960
Thank you for joining us today and telling us your story.
00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.519
Thank you.
00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.559
I appreciate it anytime.
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.759
And we can't wait to see it.
00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:32.480
We've mentioned so many people during this podcast, and we're excited to just see where these threads continue to take us.
00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:10.000
Welcome to Threads Between Us, a podcast by University Medical Center of El Paso.
00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:16.320
We discovered old photo albums in a storage unit at the hospital, and it took us on a journey through decades of stories.
00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:24.480
Stories of our healthcare workers and patients, families, and the threads woven throughout that connect us in ways we didn't even realize.
00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:29.120
We're excited to take this journey with you and discover where these threads lead.
00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:33.520
And welcome back to Threads Between Us.
00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:39.280
For our last episode, we heard from UMC traumatic brain injury patient Jaclyn Pellicott, whose life changed forever.
00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:42.799
And we spoke with one of the nurses who was the first to care for her, Nancy McGrail.
00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:43.920
And Nancy joins us today.
00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:44.880
Nancy, welcome.
00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:45.600
Thank you.
00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:51.600
We're excited to have you here today, and we talked about those threads that continued to lead us through healthcare.
00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:54.880
We're connected to our patients, to family members, and other healthcare workers.
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And Nancy, we heard from you on the last episode, and you're just going to carry us through, and we're excited to hear about your story.
00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:03.920
So you originally started in the emergency department.
00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:07.840
You moved to women's services, and then you now work in patient experience.
00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:13.439
Now you're connected to so many different patients and other coworkers, and we're excited to hear your story today.
00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:14.560
Thanks for having me.
00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:16.719
And so, Nancy, can you just take me back?
00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:21.519
33 years, I believe, is how long you told me that you've worked in healthcare.
00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:22.879
Can you take me back to the beginning?
00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:25.439
What first inspired you to become a nurse?
00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:27.519
What led you to the emergency department?
00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:29.120
Well, I'm going to age myself.
00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:34.959
So the television show Emergency from the 1970s, Dixie was my idol.
00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:37.359
She was the charge nurse in the emergency room.
00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:41.040
So that is the reason I went into be a nurse.
00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:43.920
I cannot remember a time when I didn't want to be a nurse.
00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:46.400
Like I had no plan B.
00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:50.400
It was to be a nurse, or I didn't know else I could do.
00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.040
So that's as a small child.
00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.319
And you originally are not from El Paso.
00:01:56.799 --> 00:02:00.799
Can you tell us where you grew up, maybe where you first started your career in nursing?
00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:10.080
Yes, I grew up in West Central Illinois on a grain and livestock farm in a very small rural community, about 600 people called Kirkwood, Illinois.
00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:15.280
And I went to college in Canton, Missouri and graduated there in 1993.
00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:17.919
My first nursing job was in Quincy, Illinois.
00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:20.479
I worked on a med surge oncology unit.
00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:27.120
And then after about a year and a half there, I moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and lived there and worked there as a nurse for 17 years.
00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:29.759
And was it anything like your TV show?
00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:32.240
Sometimes it can be.
00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:36.319
So I mean, no, it was it's I've done so many different areas.
00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:39.120
So I went from med surge, telemetry.
00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:42.159
I kind of came to ER mid-career.
00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:47.360
Um, so I'd been a nurse for a long time when I first came into the emergency department.
00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:55.280
That which I just kind of stumbled into it as I was a float pool nurse, and I got pulled to the ER one night, and I really liked it, and they really liked me.
00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:01.840
So they kept requesting me back, and I had a bunch of mentors that mentored me up to be an ER nurse.
00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:10.879
And then uh in 2010, I made the decision to go downtown Memphis, Tennessee, into one of our inner city emergency rooms.
00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:20.960
Um, I had been working in the suburbs, and I remember interviewing with the director and her being really puzzled why I was there since I worked in the suburbs.
00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:25.199
And she's like, Do you understand what kind of patients we have here?
00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:27.520
And I said, Yes, ma'am, that's why I'm applying.
00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:30.560
I said, All the critically injured get shipped down here.
00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:32.639
This is where I want to learn.
00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:36.719
So, and I worked there for almost two years before we moved to El Paso.
00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:40.080
And then, so how old were your sons when you moved to El Paso?
00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:43.840
They were 11, 10, and 7 in 2012.
00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:46.960
And so I actually was able to speak with one of your sons.
00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:49.919
And I believe he's your middle son, Hollis.
00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:50.639
Yes.
00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:52.719
And he had a message for you.
00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:54.080
He talked about that time.
00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:59.919
I asked him, you know, what memory about your mom really sticks out to you?
00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:04.479
And he said that you've inspired him throughout his entire life and his career.
00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:09.199
And he brought up that time when you all, when when your your husband was deployed.
00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:11.439
So I'm gonna play for you just a message from him.
00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:23.199
But the day that we have dropped my father off for his second tour of duty in Iraq, um, you know, her her getting us in the van and us driving all the way back to Memphis.
00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:31.360
Um her taking on that commitment to take care of three boys um who, you know, while my dad was on the other side of the plane.
00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:40.959
That that one um I kind of always think about it, always kind of pops up back into into my uh head every now and then.
00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:53.680
Uh just really her commitment and her hard work and um not only that, but her kind of bravery, I guess, you know, uh letting my dad go and do something like that.
00:04:54.879 --> 00:05:00.879
And so Nancy, did you I don't know if you knew that was a memory that that stuck with your son in that way.
00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:02.079
No, no, I didn't.
00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:05.519
I actually had pneumonia when I was driving them back to Memphis.
00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:07.600
I was in the ER the next day.
00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:10.079
So where you worked, it wasn't it?
00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:11.759
Yeah, I went to the ER I worked in.
00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:12.319
Yeah.
00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:16.000
So my husband, I think we drove back on a Saturday.
00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:21.519
I had a girlfriend come visit me on Sunday and take a look at me, and she took me straight to the ER.
00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:26.319
And then my um one of the physicians I worked with said, You need to be admitted.
00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:27.600
I said, I can't be.
00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:29.920
I don't have anyone at home.
00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:32.879
So he's like, I said, My mom's on her way.
00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:35.040
So this was she was still living at the time.
00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:40.560
So he got on the phone and talked to my mom and was like, Yeah, I need to make sure that you're gonna be here at least a week.
00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:42.480
And it was a crazy time.
00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:46.480
And that's probably something your boys might not even remember or know that.
00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:51.360
I just thought Pooh was visiting for that's what they called my mom, um, was visiting for a week.
00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:52.399
How great was that?
00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:57.360
So let's fast forward now to you moving to El Paso and starting to work at UMC.
00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:07.680
I know you mentioned when you were working in Memphis that you for those two years that you really got to experience a different kind of patient and traumas that were coming in.
00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:17.120
So can you talk about just how the transition was to El Paso coming to UMC and those first, I don't know if you can remember the memories, those first days, months arriving here.
00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:17.680
Yes.
00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.240
So Memphis, we called it the gun and knife show.
00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:23.680
So our traumas were predominantly penetrating.
00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:26.879
And when I came to El Paso, it was the exact opposite.
00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:29.279
There were more blunt traumas.
00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:34.399
So one of the things that I had to get used to is why were so many people falling off roofs?
00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:37.199
I didn't realize there was a thing called the swamp cooler.
00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:39.040
Because living in Tennessee, it's very humid.
00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:41.439
A swamp cooler would not work in Tennessee.
00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.360
Everyone had refrigerated air.
00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:51.040
So that was kind of odd that I was I finally asked one day, why are so many people falling off roofs?
00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:54.160
And they explained the difference to me in different cooling systems.
00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:55.519
Something so simple.
00:06:55.839 --> 00:07:00.639
And then building relationships, moving to a new city and your team members here.
00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:17.600
And I know I was able to speak with your friend and former coworker, Sarah Hereta, and she was telling me just about during that time what really stuck out to her was how you would advocate for other nurses and you would help them, even if maybe the emergency department wasn't the right fit for them.
00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:20.160
I'm gonna play for you something that she said.
00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:27.439
When I first started nursing, um, I think I graduated in 07, so it was like kind of like an eat your young kind of career.
00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:30.879
So when I was brought up, it was like, you know, sink or swim.
00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:33.600
If you weren't tough, the ER wasn't for you.
00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:40.480
So when I met Nancy and she became our assistant manager and our director, she had she exposed me to a whole nother view.
00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:43.759
She was like, hey, nursing isn't all about eating your young.
00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:46.079
You know, I want to see these girls do well.
00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:54.160
As a new grad, when you start in a level one, um, sometimes, you know, you're used to seeing the TV shows and you think it's gonna be so much fun.
00:07:54.319 --> 00:08:00.319
It's like Gray's Anatomy or like ER, and it ends up being a lot of work emotionally, physically.
00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.600
So they would, I would watch Nancy kind of mentored me.
00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:06.079
She, I was the assistant manager while she was the director.
00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:11.360
And she kind of showed me that hey, these these girls are are doing well.
00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:13.759
Um, they're this just isn't the environment for them.
00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:22.560
She would get with other directors, see what was open, um, talk with the nurses who were already in tears, thinking this is the end of my career, I shouldn't have been a nurse.
00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:32.879
And Nancy would actually work with the other departments, see what was open, mentor them, and say, hey, maybe the ER wasn't a fit for you, but there's an opening in medSearch, there's an opening in L D.
00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:36.480
And she was actually able to keep them in the UMC family.
00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:43.120
And years later, they were still working in the other departments, like total turnaround from tears and thinking that it was the end of their career.
00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:49.840
Nancy, how does it make you feel just to hear Sarah's perspective of that time?
00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:54.879
I didn't, I'm I didn't realize I made such an impression.
00:08:55.039 --> 00:09:00.480
Um, the thing about nursing is there are so many different areas of nursing.
00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:08.559
And just because it you don't have a good fit in ER or the ICU doesn't mean you're not going to be successful as a nurse.
00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:16.240
And Nancy, we talk about those connections that you make with your coworkers over time and you go through really traumatic things together.
00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:26.720
And I know during that period of time, 2018, 2019, you had a lot of pediatric cases that came in, and then it was August 3rd, and one of the pediatric cases hit really close to home for you.
00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:30.159
Can you just talk about that time and what that was like?
00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:30.799
Yes.
00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:37.919
So in 2018, at that time I was director and Sarah was nurse manager.
00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:46.320
On that day, April 20th, 2018, we're in the office, we hear a level one pediatric trauma um en route.
00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:52.000
And Sarah and I, hey, we're the pediatric experts here, went immediately to the trauma bay.
00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:55.279
And it was a very devastating head injury, pelvic injury.
00:09:55.440 --> 00:10:00.480
It was a a child had been struck by a truck on highway speed.
00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:11.120
And so um, and anytime you're in a situation, especially if it's pediatric, you're just pulling out all you're throwing everything in, the kitchen sink, everything.
00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.480
You're trying everything.
00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:13.519
What are we missing?
00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:14.720
What else can we do?
00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:25.440
And about 45 minutes into this very prolonged resuscitation of this child, I get someone tapping me on my shoulder and they're saying, This is so-and-so's son.
00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:29.279
And I realized it was one of my night shift nurses.
00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:30.159
And I went to Dr.
00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:35.440
Tyrock and I told him, This is so, this is her son.
00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:44.080
And we rallied and did everything we possibly could, but he unfortunately he passed away.
00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:47.759
So I I know she's en route to the hospital.
00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:49.679
She's been notified by school.
00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:54.240
And I don't know if you've been in the ED when you're in the trauma bay and you have to walk all the way to the front.
00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:57.360
Um they said she's here.
00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:01.440
So I had to walk through the ED.
00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.360
It was eerily quiet.
00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:06.159
Everyone knew what had happened in the trauma base.
00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:07.759
Everyone knew.
00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:14.639
And I'm walking and I see Robert, who's a nurse with Sarah.
00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:18.399
Uh, he's a psych psychiatric nurse practitioner now.
00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:20.879
And he's a really big man of faith.
00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:22.240
I always admired him for that.
00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:27.759
And I pulled him into this little hallway and I told him what had happened because he's passed away.
00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:30.720
Can you pray for me and give me strength?
00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.200
Because I have to go, I have to go tell her, right?
00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:35.519
Sorry, I'm emotional.
00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.039
Quick prayer.
00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:42.399
I went to the waiting room, got her, and we walked all the way back to the R zone.
00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:52.399
Didn't say much, and we get into the R zone, and she grabbed me and she said, Why is it so quiet?
00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:57.200
And I said, he's gone.
00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:03.279
So we just standing by the icing machine and she shoved me.
00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:04.960
She's like, You're a liar.
00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:18.320
And um we stepped in and took her to the bedside, and it was the worst day as a nurse leader, for sure.
00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:28.799
So and to go through that with someone that you cared about and knew personally, and to have to be the one to deliver that news to her.
00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:33.919
Yeah, I cannot even wrap my head around the strength that that took to do that.
00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:36.639
But then the strength that she had.
00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:38.960
You told me she came back to work.
00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:40.399
Yeah, she did.
00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:46.879
Um, and for her to have that resilience to come back was so like no one's allowed to have a bad day.
00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.879
If she's having an okay day, we're all having an okay day.
00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:55.039
Because she's had a bad day, she's had a the worst day of her life.
00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:57.519
So it personally impacted me.
00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:00.399
Like, hey, you're not allowed to feel sorry for yourself.
00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:01.519
Nuh-uh.
00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:08.799
If someone like that can go get through a tragedy like this, this minor inconvenience that's bothering you today is nothing.
00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:26.960
So and for you to say that that was one of the worst days in your career, to fast forward getting to reunite with her in a different way that was outside of the ED, outside of trauma, outside of that moment, but still within our hospital walls.
00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:32.559
Can you talk about that moment and how you were able to connect with her in that way?
00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:34.559
Yeah, she came and had three babies.
00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:42.000
So just to see, to support her as a new mom, you know, being a new mom is so exciting and it's such a special time.
00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:54.080
And just to be there to share that joy with her and to um see her little little ones, and she still shares pictures with me, and they're growing up so fast.
00:13:54.240 --> 00:14:01.039
But it was just such an honor and a privilege to care for her in a different way.
00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.120
Hey, this is a happy time.
00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:04.639
This is a happy occasion.
00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:10.159
We're celebrating life, we're celebrating a new life, and that that was really important too.
00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:11.440
It was special.
00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:18.399
And the timing of everything that you were, she was your nurse when you were in the emergency department.
00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:35.440
You were the one there that day to care for her son and fight for him, and to be the one to have to deliver that news to her, to then continue working with her in the emergency department, for you to then move to mother baby and be there at the time that she had her children.
00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:40.559
Can you just talk about the timing and the being where you're meant to be?
00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.279
Right.
00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:44.639
It's I yeah, I feel like there's divine intervention.
00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.159
Everything happens for a reason.
00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:50.720
You're placed here in this particular time for this particular reason.
00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:53.519
I truly believe in fate and things like that.
00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:58.799
And it was just a gift to me to to come full circle with her.
00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:07.360
And what message do you think you would like to share with other nurses, other healthcare workers to talk about your worst day?
00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:14.480
And there's lots of difficult days, but that there's light at the end of the tunnel, there's beautiful things still ahead.
00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:17.200
Can you just talk about that hope that's there?
00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:18.080
Yes.
00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:20.960
Um, what we nursing's so important.
00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:33.679
We are, we are the advocate for our patients, and we are the eyes and ears for the physicians, and we hold a huge amount of responsibility, and um we owe that to our patients.
00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:36.240
But it's it is such a fulfilling career.
00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:47.039
Um I always told my staff when I was over clinical units, if the decision you're making benefits the patient, you don't have to ask my permission.
00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.879
Does it benefit the patient and is it keep the patient safe?
00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.960
Yes, yes, proceed.
00:15:53.360 --> 00:16:00.879
Um, and that's just, you know, because patient safety is our number one, number one initiative here, all safety.
00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:06.799
Um, and but if it has a really positive impact on the patient as well, I'm all for that as well.
00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:11.519
So do you feel like that's an overall sentiment here at UMC?
00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:17.919
Well, we're the highest level of care in El Paso, and we're the highest level of care 200 and some mile radius.
00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:23.519
We're the only other level one is in Albuquerque, and I think the next one's Phoenix.
00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:29.039
Um so here we are in this this far west Texas town.
00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:35.360
We owe it to our not only to the Opaso citizens, but our neighbors to provide that care.
00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.799
And I think that's fantastic.
00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:44.159
Isn't it great to work for a hospital that doesn't turn any anyone away and who is considered, oh wow, you're bad, you need to go there.
00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:46.000
I mean, that's where I want to work.
00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:56.159
We're we're level four maternal as well, so we take all the complicated um maternal cases that other hospitals don't have the qualifications to care for.
00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:58.720
So we, you know, we've got our stroke program.
00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:03.440
We've got so many things to be proud of, and it's just like that's where I want to work.
00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:04.960
I want to work at the best place.
00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:06.880
I want to work at the highest level of care.
00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:08.480
And you always had that.
00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:11.440
You talked about when you were in Memphis that you were the same way.
00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:16.160
You wanted to be where you could care for the most critically injured patients.
00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.759
Where do you think that comes from from you?
00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:19.920
Is it your childhood, Nancy?
00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.920
Where did that where did that desire to help people come from?
00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.039
Well, I'm a bit of a busybody body and I'm nosy.
00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:35.839
Um so when someone we've had come in with a stroke, we'd treat them, we would stay, this is when I was in the suburban hospital, we would stabilize them and then we would fly them away.
00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:38.480
And I would be like, I wonder what happened.
00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:40.960
Like, I wanted to do more.
00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.720
Same way if they were a trauma.
00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:47.200
We would package them up, shh, fly them away, or the ambulance would take them away.
00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:50.880
And I thought, well, gosh, you know, they were going to Methodist downtown.
00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:53.839
I'm like, well, let me see if Methodist has any jobs.
00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.880
Let me look online.
00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.720
And sure enough, they did.
00:17:56.880 --> 00:18:04.880
And I applied, and that's that was really the almost two years I was there was really where I got my ER legs.
00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:10.240
Because we took care of strokes, uh, MBAs, traumas.
00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.359
We did it all.
00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:16.720
We there was a level one trauma center down the street from us that was always at capacity.
00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:23.519
So even though we weren't designated level one, we had we were a teaching facility like UMC, we had all the capacity.
00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:35.599
So we would take all of their overflow, unless it was a burn, because they they had an actual burn unit, but we were always taking their overflow because violent crime unfortunately is a thing in Memphis.
00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:42.960
So you would have, you know, a number of gunshot wounds, and we'd have to share them amongst the the trauma centers in downtown area.
00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:47.200
So, but yeah, I that's where I got my definitely got my ER legs.
00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:55.200
And is there a moment or was there something someone said to you during that time that just stuck with you that maybe carries you through today?
00:18:55.279 --> 00:19:02.720
Or I know when you came to UMC, Sarah was talking about you were an experienced nurse from Memphis coming in and you were willing to teach.
00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:12.079
And can you just talk about maybe was there someone in Memphis who was your mentor, or someone who said something to you that stuck with you over the years?
00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:16.319
One of the paramedics, it's the same situation in Memphis.
00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:23.440
We've had paramedics that would work for the fire department, or they and then they would come work at the hospital for extra shifts.
00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:31.359
And I remember, um, I cannot remember if it was my director or I think it might have been my director.
00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:33.119
I cannot remember who said this.
00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:41.279
But they said, if you see Nancy running, or if you see Nancy raising her voice, go, because it's bad.
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.200
She's the coolest one here.
00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:48.640
Like, not cool, like I'm cool, but she's the most cool, level-headed, does not panic.
00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:53.519
If she's asking for help, or if she's running, she's yelling, follow her, because it's bad.
00:19:53.839 --> 00:20:02.880
So I thought that was kind of I didn't realize that I had that trait, I guess, until someone pointed it out to me.
00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:07.680
And did you in any way in that moment, did it make you realize this is what I'm going to do?
00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.599
This is what you wanted to continue that.
00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:13.440
Did it make you feel because you were saying you're still getting your ER legs when you were in Memphis?
00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:16.400
Was that a moment of, oh hey, I I can do this?
00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.519
I'm in the right place.
00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.079
Yeah.
00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.359
I'm in the right place.
00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:21.519
And then you mentioned paramedic.
00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:32.000
We we visited with um Jaime Vasquez, who's a paramedic here at UMC, and you worked with him during August 3rd, during the shooting here in El Paso.
00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:35.359
And we spoke with him, and he actually said that you were one of the first people.
00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:42.480
You were the first person that actually answered the phone that day when he called and he was able to speak with you to tell you what was happening.
00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:48.000
And I do want to just play for you what he said about that day.
00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:58.880
We connected, she answered, and I and I told her Nancy the time, I don't I don't want to I don't want to get any kind of any kind of scare at you or anything, but uh we did have a shooting at Walmart.
00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.480
And there's multiple casualties.
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:03.920
I have no idea how many right now because the incident just got dispatched.
00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:13.119
And she was like, um, she said, okay, I'm gonna um I told her that way you can make your calls and prepare and be ready for them when they get there.
00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:19.119
And so hearing Jaime describe speaking to you on the phone, does it take you back to that moment?
00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:22.960
And you talked about if Nancy's yelling or running, you pay attention.
00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:27.279
Was did that instinct kicked in that day, or can you take us back to that day?
00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:30.319
I just jumped up and put my scrubs on and got in the car.
00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:33.359
And the phone was ringing the entire trip in.
00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:41.279
And I remember parking in the parking garage and people, myself included, sprinting to the to the hospital.
00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:44.319
And then getting inundated with calls from my staff.
00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.359
Do you need help?
00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.000
I'm here.
00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.119
Do you want me to come in?
00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.480
Do you want me to come in?
00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:50.960
Um, multiple phone calls.
00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.720
Dealing with the public.
00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.119
We had to set up a staging area for the public.
00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:58.400
The Mexican consulate came, wanted to speak to me.
00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.839
He's like, I know you have citizenship.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.039
Of minor, you know, there's Mexican citizens that have been involved.
00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:05.039
But everyone was under a trauma name.
00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:11.279
We didn't know who we had them registered as trauma, you know, whatever they are.
00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:13.759
Um, so we weren't really sure who anyone was.
00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:23.680
I mean, we knew who we were treating, but we didn't exactly know, yes, that person in trauma bay five is this person, um, because we have to do that emergency registration.
00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:26.559
So yeah, it was for it's it was crazy.
00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:29.119
It was in insanity.
00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:42.319
And then later in the evening, putting back the trauma bays back together with the paramedics and the tech, we just went from trauma bay to trauma bay and restocked and cleaned up, and it was phenomenal.
00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:44.799
And were you with Jaime that day?
00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.319
Yeah, he had his hat on.
00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:48.960
I'll never forget he was still working.
00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:52.960
He got off shift with the fire department and then continued to work in the ED.
00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:55.440
And I remember him having his baseball cap on backwards.
00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.440
So I thought that was so funny.
00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:59.920
And we he just he didn't miss a beat.
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:06.000
He was in his fire uniform, and he just, you know, came in and helped, and because he was already there.
00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:09.200
So he just jumped in after shift and and was helping.
00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:15.279
And he told me that that experience inspired him to come full time at UBC.
00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:18.720
He felt that that was where he was most needed.
00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:30.480
And when we talk about being at the right place at the right time and the moments that connect us all together, and I go back to Memphis, Nancy, just from what you told me.
00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:34.880
Could could she believe what you have gone through and what you have overcome?
00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:45.119
I just I want to ask you if there's just anything you think younger Nancy would would say about if she could hear these stories and hear what you've done.
00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:51.200
I wouldn't believe it if you told me because I never intended to get into nursing leadership.
00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:54.559
I was very content being a bedside nurse in the ED.
00:23:54.880 --> 00:24:04.640
Um, when the opportunity came to go into leadership 10 years ago, it was my husband, Patrick, who really encouraged me because we had always moved around for his career.
00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:12.160
He had a corporate career, and the then he would always had his officer career in the the New Mexico National Guard.
00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:16.960
He's which I am happy to say he is Colonel, Patrick, Colonel McGraw.
00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:26.160
Um, so back when this opportunity to be in nursing leadership in the ED, he really pushed me and encouraged me and said, you need to go for it.
00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.680
The boys are getting older.
00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.160
You've put your career on hold for me.
00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:35.759
Now it's you, now it's time for you to put your career at the forefront.
00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:39.519
And the boys are older, they don't need you, they don't need a babysitter.
00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.759
This take it, go for it.
00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.720
And I did.
00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:46.160
And you've inspired your boys over the years.
00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:55.200
I know I got to speak with Hollis, and we heard from him, and he talked about just your strength, and he said that you always show up for him, no matter what.
00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:58.400
And that he said you're always on his side, always on his team.
00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:03.440
And that's the same sentiment that I've heard from every nurse and everyone that I've spoken to about you.
00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:09.359
And I know Sarah brought up those instances that you helped nurses find their place in the hospital.
00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:14.400
So, what would you say you would like your legacy to be or what you would like to leave behind?
00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.079
Wow.
00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:19.920
Um, I always forgot to mention I was always on his case too.
00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:32.720
Just that um that I'm an advocate and I believe in nurses, and I feel like there's a place for everyone in nursing.
00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:38.960
And there um just that it costs nothing to care for people.
00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:42.640
It costs nothing to be kind.
00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:47.759
And um, like I said, it it comes back to you tenfold.
00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:58.559
So I truly believe the kinder I am, the more I mentor, the more I volunteer, that it's only gonna benefit me in in the aftermath.
00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:01.759
And something you said to me, Nancy, has stuck with me.
00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:04.079
I even wrote it down when you mentioned it to me.
00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:07.279
You said, the more you give of yourself, the more you get back.
00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:09.279
I believe that 100%, yes.
00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:13.920
And it sounds like that has been the motto of your of your career.
00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:14.880
So far it's working.
00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.319
Someone stick with the plan.
00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:19.200
So well, Nancy, we appreciate you so much.
00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:22.960
Thank you for joining us today and telling us your story.
00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.519
Thank you.
00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.559
I appreciate it anytime.
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.759
And we can't wait to see it.
00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:32.480
We've mentioned so many people during this podcast, and we're excited to just see where these threads continue to take us.
