Why Our Patients Trust St. Vincent's
Lucy Palmucci: Compassionate Hands
The face of Lucy Palmucci, RN, is what her patients see before and after their surgery. As part of the skilled, compassionate and well-trained nursing staff at St. Vincent’s, she is proud of her position as Operating Room Nurse. “I was inspired at the age of eight to become a nurse. I had abdominal surgery and the nurses were wonderful.” She answered her calling and has been a nurse for 25 years, specializing as a surgical nurse for 23 years.
Lucy serves two roles as an OR nurse: she is both a caregiver, who manages the experience of a surgical patient throughout the process, and a patient advocate, ensuring their safety and quality of care. As circulating nurse, she works as part of an inter-disciplinary team to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.
“Teamwork and supportive management are the aspects of St. Vincent’s OR team which stand out from other hospitals I have worked for,” says Lucy. She has worked at the Medical Center for seven years and enjoys the rapport surgeons have with the staff. She finds it a pleasure to work with Dr. Albert DiMeo, director of minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery, who performs cardiothoracic surgery and robotic lung surgery.
Lucy is partnered with the surgical technologist to manage the patient and his or her care. Additionally, they work with the surgeon, the surgical assistant, the anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist, as part of an inter-disciplinary team. This teamwork and support, Lucy says, is what helps her take the best possible care of her patients.
Lucy understands that pre- and post-surgery are key moments. She appreciates that these can be the most challenging times for a patient as they face a “loss of self control and have a fear of the unknown. We always hold the patients’ hands as they fall asleep for surgery.”
Lucy feels she is a better nurse because she has been a patient several times. The empathy, kindness and reassurance she shows to her patients are key factors to successful outcomes.