She has spent four decades as a nurse and educator, but it hasn’t felt like work. “It’s been a privilege.”
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Connie Neuzerling is one of the lucky ones. She’s had a job she’s loved for four decades, and in that time, she has made a profound impact on patients, families and fellow nurses at Riley Hospital for Children.
Neuzerling is not retiring just yet, but she is looking back on the 40-plus years she’s spent at Riley with fondness and gratitude. (And yes, retirement likely will come sometime in the next year.)
“It was not work most of the time,” she said. “It was a passion. I love the heart babies. Not everybody finds that in their job, so I feel blessed that my job was my passion.”
Neuzerling has always been interested in the “why” behind what she is doing. That trait has served her well as a nurse, VAD (ventricular assist device) coordinator and educator on the CVICU at Riley.
She is the “backbone” of the unit, said Melissa Keesling, manager for clinical operations on the CVICU. “She has taught every nurse on the third floor. She is so smart and so compassionate.”
The compassion is innate, but the intelligence has been honed by years of asking questions.
“I always wanted to have the understanding behind something, not just memorize facts for a test, but to understand the physiology,” Neuzerling said.
That’s what she has tried to pass on in training new nurses – to know the “why” behind a treatment because it improves the care, the two-time Margaret Martin Award winner said.
“It deepens the care you provide because you’re asking the right questions, not just following orders but understanding why this order is in place and how is it benefiting my patient.”
That sense of curiosity has served her well over the years and allowed her to challenge new nurses to always bring their questions forward. Doing so will help improve safety and give them insight as they advocate on behalf of their patients.
Understanding how things fit together in the body bleeds into her personal pastime as well – that of a puzzler.
“I guess that’s how my brain works,” said the wife, mother and grandmother. “I like to know how things fit.”
She inherited the puzzler hobby from her mother and is passing it on to her 2-year-old grandson, who joins her at the puzzle table at least twice a week when she and her husband, Gary, babysit. While she prefers landscapes, whimsical scenes and holiday themes, her grandson is decidedly more into fire trucks and such.
As she winds down her career at Riley, Neuzerling is preparing to pass the torch, but it’s not a simple hand-off. It’s years of knowledge and experience to be handed down.
“I have done the majority of the continuing education and the orientation education for many years, so that’s a process that takes time.”
Neuzerling has dedicated her life to the Riley Heart Center, Keesling said, and the unit has been richer for it.
Neuzerling says she has been blessed just as much.
“It’s been a privilege.”
Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
Related Stories
