Nurse Profiles
Read about some of our outstanding nurses, and learn why they choose to work at the forefront of nursing excellence.
Ed Heimberg, RN
Ed Heimberg, a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse, enjoys the challenge of working at a world-class medical center. "If you're going to work anywhere, why not work at the best?" says Heimberg. He joined the University of Chicago in 1998 and has since worked in several care centers, including hematology/oncology.
In 2005, after working five years in the adult intensive care unit (ICU), he transferred to perioperative services in the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. "The University of Chicago Medicine offered me this opportunity to explore a different realm of nursing," he says. In this role, Heimberg has gained a unique perspective on healthcare. While enjoying his interaction with the pediatric population, he has continued to work in the adult ICU once a week. "This way, I have been able to expand my skills in pediatrics and continue to build experience in adult critical care," Heimberg says.
Heimberg works hand-in-hand with some of the nation's top physicians. "It's nice to know that many of the physicians you're working with are literally writing the medical books," he adds. Working in an environment rich with innovation and leading-edge research means Heimberg is always learning new things. "We care for patients with extremely rare cancers, sometimes with incidences of one in 500,000," he notes. "The experience is very valuable."
Heimberg also enjoys the autonomy and respect he has as a nurse here. "The physicians truly value the opinions of nurses. They really appreciate our input," he says.
Richelle Howell, RN
Richelle Howell takes pride in treating all patients with respect and dignity. "I believe all patients are VIPs," she says. She currently works in the Transfer Center, playing an instrumental role in facilitating the transfer of patients from other hospitals to our medical campus.
With more than 20 years of cardiology nursing experience, Howell is a patient care veteran with a good sense of humor. Howell has worked with many critical patients, exceeding their expectations by meeting both physical and emotional needs. "You can calm a person down with humor," she says. "I try to make sure they're comfortable and not in pain, providing whatever they need to make their hospital stays better."
For as long as Howell can remember, she aspired to be a nurse. "I think I'm a natural caregiver," she says, counting her kind heart and friendly personality among important nursing skills.
She started at the University of Chicago medical center in 1989 and has witnessed the organization's progress in medical innovation and technological advancement. "It doesn't get routine," says Howell, who completed her bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN) with assistance from the University of Chicago's educational benefits for nurses. "There's always something new coming down the pipe." For her, this is one of the advantages of working at an academic medical center. "We have a very good group of nurses--very skilled and very knowledgeable because it's a learning hospital," she says. "And, they're always keeping abreast of the latest technology. That promotes excellence."
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