Profiles in Success

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Todd Olrich, MSN, RN, CNS

Syracuse, NY
BS Degree, Class of 2004
MS Degree, Class of 2006

Achieving Endless Possibilities in Nursing

In a nursing career, Todd Olrich saw "endless possibilities" to work in areas from pediatrics to adult, and emergency room to cardiac cath lab. Achieving his goal to become a "nurse’s nurse," Olrich advanced quickly from obtaining his associate’s degree in nursing, to his BS and then master’s degree for Clinical Nurse Specialist.

At Crouse Hospital, where he has worked for six years, Olrich is a medical-surgical CNS covering three patient floors that comprise gynecology-oncology, cardiac-renal and MRSA-safe/immunology. "While I like nephrology best, I enjoy that each floor offers a little bit of everything for me in patient care. There’s no routine day. My main focus is to support and reinforce what needs to be done on each floor."

In the role of nurse's nurse, Olrich explains that he is the "go-to person" for the nursing staff. His responsibilities include overseeing and educating staff about protocols required for physicians and clinical staff for various conditions. This includes working with not only physicians, RNs, LPNs and NAs, but also staff from other disciplines such as physical therapists and respiratory therapists – for an interdisciplinary team approach to patient care.

"I work to fix the process, if it's broken," comments Olrich. "I try to analyze the problem from the patient's perspective, while working collaboratively with staff." Recently, Olrich helped develop a hypo-perfusion protocol to treat septic patients rapidly. "In performing this protocol, we quickly act to normalize the patient's BP to prevent further worsening of the condition. Goal-directed treatment at the earliest stages of severe sepsis helps to restore a balance between oxygen delivery and demand, thus preventing cardiovascular collapse. Prevention of cardiovascular collapse prevents unnecessary transfers to the Intensive Care Unit and helps decrease patient days."

Olrich helped to coordinate the procedure's implementation by working closely with a team that included the emergency department's CNS, critical care and emergency room doctors, an infectious control doctor and the ICU manager.

"It’s very rewarding to see positive patient outcomes through my work."

Why is Olrich so drawn to advanced practice nursing?

"There are so many challenges nurses face on a daily basis that I wanted to be able to improve the system. As a CNS, I am allowed to help change the system or process relating to patient safety and care quality. Instead of helping only one patient at a time, I have a hand in making changes that help many patients at once."

While managing a busy work schedule, Olrich also has volunteered to teach at the College of Nursing on the topic of dealing with management and directors, and to precept a graduate student each year.

Where does Olrich see himself in another five to 10 years?

"Still at the bedside," he quickly responds, adding, "with a doctoral degree as well."