A Day in the Life of an Administrator: Cynthia Wiersema

A Day in the Life of an Administrator: Cynthia Wiersema

Welcome to A Day in the Life of an Administrator, our online column, where we sat down with Cynthia Wiersema, director of nursing at NANI Vascular in Fort Wayne, Ind. Outpatient Surgery Magazine is posting these profiles to give the administrators, directors and other leaders in ambulatory facilities a voice — and to share, in their own words, what it’s like to walk in their shoes. Their stories offer a glimpse into the significant role these individuals play on the OR team and the challenges they face as they work alongside their colleagues.

OSM: How did you become an outpatient leader?
Cynthia Wiersema (CW): When the Director of the surgery center I worked at resigned, I, a circulating nurse of six years, found myself in a new role. During a staff meeting to introduce our new interim Director, the need for leadership in supporting the OR came up. To my surprise, several of my colleagues pointed at me and said, “Cindy will do it!” I was taken aback and flattered. It was never something I had considered before — but I agreed to discuss the opportunity further. Ultimately, I accepted the leadership role, and I’ve never looked back!

What is the greatest challenge you’ve ever faced in that role?
CW: Pushing myself beyond my nursing and healthcare expertise to tackle issues related to HVAC, plumbing, door mechanics, equipment failures and other areas traditionally handled by maintenance or facilities personnel. I took it as a challenge to save costs for the surgery center, and although it was demanding, I’m grateful for the experience and the financial benefits stepping out of my comfort it brought to our facility.

Give us a brief description of a busy day at your center in your role?
CW: A typical busy day often unfolds unexpectedly. Initially, I may anticipate a smooth day and plan to work on the piles of “To-Do” notes that surround me in my office. But that’s often when those unforeseen events —a delayed physician, impromptu meetings, patient requests to speak with management (often to praise my amazing team and advocate for their raise) and many other disruptions —that deviate from my usual daily routine and the tasks that must be completed. To be clear, I LOVE the praise interruptions.

In the world of surgery, what's the best piece of advice you've ever received? In life?
CW: Not everyone will agree with the decisions you make — and that’s ok! Strive to make the fairest decision you possibly can, so you can go home at the end of the day without any lingering guilt. The same advice applies to life. I know that not everyone is going to like me, and I’m OK with it. I strive every day to treat others with kindness, love and respect because of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That way, when I go to my eternal home, I can do so without regret.

How do you remotivate or bolster morale after a tough day?
CW: It often takes more than just a pizza party. Now don’t get me wrong, food is always a pleasant surprise and most definitely welcomed, but there are simple and often more effective ways to express gratitude and appreciation for those morale-killer days. I have found personally expressing appreciation one on one or by sending individual messages to recognize a staff member’s efforts during the difficult days brings it to the next level. Taking the time to identify specific challenges and personalize the message further demonstrates your understanding and support. Another option: Sending a group chat with a lighthearted Meme or GIF that captures the essence of the day to elicit laughter — and following it up with a sincere appreciation message. Remember that addressing low morale should involve more than food; incorporating humor and genuine appreciation is key.

What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you at work?
CW: When I was working as a circulating nurse in the OR, there was some friendly banter between a surgeon (a big Philadelphia Eagles fan) and myself (a devoted Chicago Bears fan). Following a Bears victory over the Eagles, I asked a patient if I could play the Bears anthem as the surgeon entered in the OR, and they happily approved. When the surgeon walked in, I played the song, causing the surgeon, the patient, myself and the surgical technician to burst into laughter. The doctor shook his head and gestured toward me as if to say, “You got me,” clearly disappointed that his beloved Eagles had lost.

What's is the strangest hobby or most unusual skill among your staff?
CW: The most unusual skill among my team is their ability to hear a few words, connect them to song lyrics, and effortlessly belt out the song. Their ability to connect the two so quickly is quite impressive, and on top of that, they are phenomenal singers!

If you were speaking at a middle school on Career Day, how would you explain what you do?
CW: I’d explain that as a Director of a surgery center, you make sure everything runs smoothly and that the patients are well taken care of. You work with the doctors, nurses, radiologic technicians and surgical technicians to make sure the surgery center is a safe and welcoming place for the patients. You help with things like making schedules, managing the budget and making sure all the equipment is working properly. The Director works with a team of managers that make important decisions about how the surgery center should be run. As a Director, you need to be a good leader and a good problem-solver. You need to constantly think about what's best for the patients and the people who work at the surgery center.

Just so you know, this question made me laugh because it reminded me of a memory from when my kids were in middle/high school. They asked me if my job mainly involved arts and crafts because they were accustomed to seeing me create tags with lighthearted quotes and adding them to small gifts for my staff to hand out during the holidays and appreciation weeks. My kids really had little understanding of my actual work responsibilities.

If your surgery center was a movie, what would it be and why?
CW: “Patch Adams!” The film’s portrayal of a fun medical environment filled with quirky, comical characters definitely describes my team and me. We take a non-traditional approach to patient care — one that involves bringing joy, humor and personal attention that is very similar to the character Robin Williams played in “Patch Adams.” We firmly believe by being personable and adding laughter truly distinguishes us from other surgery centers and enhances our patients’ experience.

Note: Outpatient Surgery Magazine would like to thank Cynthia for sharing her life with us! On behalf of our team, we are sending a small token of appreciation to Cynthia and her OR team. If you are an administrator and would like to share your day and special insights for this online exclusive column, please contact our Editor-in-Chief Jared Bilski at [email protected]. Have a great day! OSM