October 13, 2021

At the Center of it All

Central, Clinical Partners, Rural Health

“I don’t think you can imagine how crazy our days can be,” says Susie Reitmeier, Nurse Supervisor at St. Cloud Hospital, “but it can be crazy.”

With that, the conversation had begun with nurse supervisors Karen Neis and Susie Reitmeier, who have 72 years of nursing between them. They were already midway through a typical day, if there is one. “We’re constantly shifting patients — transferring from one unit to the other, taking patients upstairs, getting more patients in, figuring out how many discharges we’re going to have during the day. Can we take this patient? Can we not take this patient? What will staffing look like at three o’clock,” explains Neis.

It is constant, fluid motion every single minute. Says Susie, “We have to worry about our staff because they are somewhat overwhelmed. We have to make sure we take care of them and not overwhelm them with too many patients coming in.”

COVID is a big part of the equation. It’s hard work for nurses, and even harder to be in mask and gown, sweating. “This has turned off some people from nursing,” Karen says. “We’ve lost people either because the work was too hard, or because of their personal choice about the vaccine. And it’s an overwhelming amount of work because of how many patients need to come to St. Cloud Hospital. It’s been tough lately.”

We have physicians call us begging to take patients from outside facilities.

Susie Reitmeier, RN Nurse Supervisor

There is an ache in her voice when Susie says, “We have physicians call us begging to take patients from outside facilities. We have to tell them we can’t. We don’t have the staff or the bed situation. It’s not safe. I know my ER is full and I know they have 30 people in the lobby. I don’t know how many of them are going to be admitted. It’s a constant puzzle.”

Sometimes, she has to turn those patients away, which does not feel good. 

Karen provides some background and perspective, “The COVID journey we’re on is very difficult. For years, we’ve been able to take patients from all our local and regional sites. We never turned away a patient. With COVID, we are constantly turning patients away. Staffing is a big component, but while it doesn’t feel right to turn a patient away, we have to take care of the patients we have here now.”

With COVID, we are constantly turning patients away.

Karen neis, rn nurse supervisor

Susie explains that they are going day-by-day, hoping the next day will be better. “We’re hoping for the numbers to go down in the COVID areas. We’re hoping for more hired staff. And as we go through it, we’re keeping our positivity up,” she says. 

As they talk, what is evident is how much they appreciate and care for the staff. “We’re here to support them in any way we can,” Karen says. “We care for our people—not just our patients—but for every staff member under this roof. We care for each of them dearly.”

Day in the Life of a Nurse Supervisor

Every day is different. “You have different hiccups to figure out,” Susie tells me. It’s what makes the role unique. “I try to figure out the puzzle and be at my best. That’s what I like about my job. It’s sometimes unforgiving, but it challenges me every single moment of my day,” she says. 

Nurse Supervisors are constantly called to help solve problems, but they don’t do it alone. “To the best of our abilities, we try to help everyone. It helps to have great rapport with physicians, Spiritual Care, Respiratory Therapy and every group within this facility,” says Susie.

What really helps, it seems, is a positive mental attitude. Says Karen, “We all try to come here refreshed, ready to work and ready to help people. The biggest part is to come with a good attitude, knowing that you’re going to try to make a difference in the staff’s day as well as the lives of patients. You just want to make the hospital a better place.”

Susie reaffirms Karen’s point, “You come in with a positive attitude—you have to—and know you’re going to get through the day. If you come in feeling negative, the day gets worse. With a positive attitude, a positive mindset, that is the day you’re going to get.” She adds, “You just breathe through it. It will be okay. Just be positive.”

With a positive attitude—a positive mindset—that is the day you’re going to get.

Susie Reitmeier, RN Nurse Supervisor

Of course, that’s not always easy in a pandemic. Karen speaks to the situation in an honest way, “I’m frustrated with COVID right now, but my nurses are special to me. What they believe and what they feel is their own opinion. I just want to work alongside them and appreciate the gifts they have for caring for the patients.” She continues, “What frustrates me are people in the community who don’t believe COVID is real. If they were here to see the patients we’ve lost and how sick these patients are, I think they would see that it is true and real.”

On that note, Karen and Susie praise the hospitalists and nurses who treat the COVID patients, “It is truly amazing what they’ve learned about the disease process and how to treat patients. They’re in those rooms constantly,” Susie says. 

“They’re amazing people,” Karen confirms and then she adds, “In all my years of nursing, I would have never imagined going through a pandemic. But I’m glad I am part of this journey because I’ve learned so much.”

Two Final Questions

If you get a sense that Nurse Supervisors are amazing, too, then we’ve arrived at the same conclusion. With all that their days include, I ask two final questions: How do you wind down at the end of the day?

“At the end of the day,” Susie shares, “I feel like I’ve done the best job I can. I’m proud of the journey that day. Maybe I didn’t make everyone happy. Maybe I didn’t make myself happy, but I got through my day and did my best. After a 30-minute drive home, I just like some peace and quiet to relax.”

When Karen gets home, she too looks for a little peace and quiet. “I don’t answer the phone. I’m on the phone non-stop all day long. I tell my husband, ‘If anyone calls, I’m not available.’

And last question, How do you get up and do it all over again the next day?

“Coffee!”