Meet Julie Turkel, BSN, RN, CCRN — Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU), Rapid Response & Code Blue Teams. For more than 15 years, Julie Turkel has worked in multiple areas that care for and/or respond to some of the most critically-ill patients in the hospital. In addition to her nursing role, Julie participates in numerous committees and councils — advocating for our patients and helping implement new policies and procedures designed to improve care and outcomes. She is also a recent Pyramid Society Award winner, which is WakeMed’s highest employee honor.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am originally from New York. My family and I moved to North Carolina in 2005 for a less hectic life — and I started working at WakeMed shortly thereafter. My husband Scott and I have been married for 30 years, and we have two grown daughters plus two great dogs! I’ve loved the opportunity to work at such a special place with the support of my leaders and mentors.

Q: Why did you choose to become a nurse?

My grandmother was a labor and delivery nurse and helped deliver many of my friends in our town. When she retired, she became the president of the Sunshine Group, a group of retired nurses. I always admired how they stayed together as a “team” even in retirement — they had such a bond and friendship. She was the strongest and most compassionate person I knew, and I wanted to be just like her. I started my career at NYU Medical Center in Oncology in 1990. I worked there for 13 years and still remain friends with the nurses I worked with there.

After 9/11, the commute, having small children and the stress of going into the city all became difficult. One of my co-workers had moved to a small Catholic heart hospital in Long Island to become manager of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and offered me a job. I found I loved the ICU environment and cardiology and have never looked back.

Q: What is it like to work with the Rapid Response Program?

The Rapid Response Team (RRT) was just being formed when I first started working at WakeMed in 2005 — I excitedly volunteered and the work we do is so fulfilling. RRT is a group of clinicians from numerous disciplines who quickly respond when a patient shows signs of rapid clinical deterioration. An RRT call can be placed by anyone — whether it’s the person dropping off a meal tray, a nurse or doctor, family member or visitor. Having the opportunity to support some of our most critically-ill patients during scary moments is a real privilege.

I also love meeting and building relationships with unit staff and providing mentorship and guidance. Just knowing they feel comfortable asking me for help or to be a second set of eyes is such a great feeling. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful team of nurses.

Q: Describe your patient care philosophy.

My goal as a nurse is to treat all patients as if they were my family or friend. I never forget that a regular working day for me is often the worst day in the lives of my patients and their families. Even in the middle of fast-paced, critical situations, I always try to help my patients maintain their dignity and independence.

This article is adapted from our Heart to Heart. Interested in getting future issues delivered to your home? Subscribe here.