Nursing director experiences ‘family care’ as a knee surgery patient

Family is important to David Pinsky, the director of nursing operations at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center. He is also the nursing director for the medical-surgical department on the fifth floor.

The idea of a career in nursing started years ago when his father had open-heart surgery. “As I watched the nurses interact with my father,” Pinsky recalled, “I was impressed by their care and all the little things they did, from start to finish. That’s when I decided to become a nurse and care for other’s health.”

Over the years, one thing has driven Pinsky's career – the opportunity to affect the people around him. “Whether it is staff, patients or families, making an impact in their lives is important to me.”

When he is not working, Pinsky loves to spend time with his family, especially taking some of his eight children on camping trips to upstate New York.

At work, Pinsky has a very mobile job. “I’m never sitting in one place at one time, always walking around the hospital. That’s how I knew I needed to fix my left knee,” he said.

Pinsky had struggled with chronic knee issues and already had one knee replacement, so when familiar symptoms reappeared on his other knee, he knew what needed to be done. He soon underwent total knee replacement surgery.

“Surgeon Dr. Thomas John, along with the team of physician assistants and nurses, made me feel comfortable about the upcoming surgery,” he said.  “My real family couldn’t be with me, but my hospital family took great care of me. The nurses and therapists made sure I was getting up and walking the same day as my surgery. I was able to return home after just one night at the hospital.”

Pinsky said his experience on the receiving end of nursing was beneficial.

“It reinforced the feelings of genuinely caring about our patients’ health. The team of surgeons, nurses, therapists, and everyone else who treated me – made me feel like I was being cared for by my own family.”