Marie Schobel: Registered Nurse, House Supervisor for BVSJHC, Nightshift Nursing Team Leader, Trauma Registrar, Patient Safety Coach
Marie is always caring for patients as if they were family, wiping away tears or rejoicing in healing.
Q: What do your daily activities include?
A: I consider myself to be very fortunate that as a Team Leader I get work very closely with our patients and my nursing staff on a daily basis. We are a smaller facility, so usually when I am at work for a nightshift I am the third nurse scheduled for the whole hospital, and I am always the Charge Nurse/House Supervisor. I take care of working in the ED and on the Med-Surg floor throughout the shift depending where my assistance is needed to provide patient care and/or take care of any issues, arrange transfers, etc. In addition, there is always other work to be done. For example, employee rounds, doing the nursing schedule, various different PI chart audits and work on keeping the Trauma Registry updated when I have any free moments throughout the shift.
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: I love being a nurse! I absolutely love knowing that every single day I make a direct personal difference in someone’s life. Having the ability to take away someone’s pain, save a life, or even comfort and support a patient and their loved ones as they pass from this world. This profession is so awesome, and I have always felt blessed that it was my calling in life. It is a huge part of who I am.
Q: What made you want to work in healthcare?
A: I have a very special cousin named Brett who soon after being born developed different medical problems, causing him to spend lengths of time in the hospital as a small child. I was in middle school then and clearly amazed and enamored by watching all of the nurses that we came in contact with during his various admissions. As a family member of a patient, even at my young age I recognized that it was the nursing care that made a huge difference in Brett’s experience and outcome. I knew right away that I wanted to be a nurse and never once changed my mind.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Right after high school I initially attended the LVN program through Memorial City Hospital, and then after working as an LVN for a few years, completed my education through the Excelsior College to obtain my degree and RN license.
Q: What do you like most about CHI St. Joseph Health?
A: I have worked at what is now CHI St. Joseph Health Bellville Hospital for 21 years and have seen so many different changes over these years. I feel like our hospital as a whole is blessed to be part of the CHI St. Joseph Health family because it is opening up opportunities for our patients in this rural area to have an improved facility and easier transition for access to a higher level of care and specialties when it is needed.
Q: How would you describe your philosophy of care?
A: Treating everyone with respect and honesty and always caring for them as family and as I would want to be treated. I have never been afraid to be honest with patients or their loved ones in explaining and educating them about their conditions and expected care and outcome. I have rejoiced and cheered with many when it was a good outcome, cried and hugged and wiped away tears with many when the outcome is poor and worked through many moments of anger with people who do not want to accept a diagnosis or treatment decision for whatever reason. Many of my co-workers have commented to me in praising my ability to, even in a bad situation, somehow find an appropriate way to “tell it like it is,” whether it is a positive or negative situation, and always have a positive ending interaction. All patients deserve to be treated with respect and have a full understanding of what is going on with them and how we can help them, all the while feel like they are actually being really “cared” for in the process. Caring for people as if they are family is comfortable and comes naturally to me. That is my gift I try to share.
Q: What do you like most about the community?
A: Everyone in our community is special, from the officers and first responders, to the registration clerks, nurses, doctors, respiratory, x-ray and lab techs, dietary, OR staff, PT and administrative staff. We have a very special family atmosphere here at our hospital. We know and love our patients and work together very well to provide great care as a whole. I have always been proud to be part of this community.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
A: I have been blessed in life with a beautiful family and wonderful friends. I try to spend as much time as possible with them. I would have to say that our favorite getaway is to go to our lake house in the hill country and enjoy time together there.
Q: Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
A: I actually live closer to another small town so people ask me all the time why I have always worked in Bellville all these years. My answer is always the same… for 21 years now Bellville Hospital has been my home away from home. I am here because we make a difference, provide great patient care, and I am proud to be part of the family that works here.