Get to Know a BHC Nurse

Torin Brenner, BSN, RNFA, CNOR

Cardiac Surgery

I’m from Wildwood, Mo. and am the “favorite” son of two wonderful parents. I also have three awesome sisters who I am very close with. We are close literally and figuratively because the four of us are all twenty-seven months apart. Growing up, we spent time together harvesting firewood, chasing after our golden retriever, and tromping around in the woods. I initially got a degree in Sustainable Development and soon after got my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I’m licensed as a Registered Nurse First Assist, or RNFA, and I have a Certified Nurse in the Operating Room, or CNOR, certification.

Why did you get into the health care field?

When one of my grandfathers was placed in hospice, my dad and I both recognized how much we appreciated and respected the work of his caregivers. That experience – and my wanting to play ultimate frisbee for another year – encouraged me to start completing prerequisites for nursing school.

What interested you in your particular specialty?

My mom made friends with an RNFA in her pottery class, and he let me shadow him while performing orthopedic procedures. I was immediately drawn to the inclusive teams he worked with and the degree to which he was involved in the surgery.

While working at the University of Missouri operating room, the heart team needed more circulating nurses, so I landed there. I took whatever opportunities came my way and volunteered for everything that no one else wanted to do. This gave me a much more comprehensive education. I was proficient in many different services and I learned to scrub. Coincidentally, this experience prepared me well to pursue a license in first assisting. I learned how to first assist here at Boone Hospital with the cardiac surgery and general surgery teams. Both teams were very patient and helpful in fostering my education.

What do you see changing in the next 5 to 10 years?

Nurses will need to learn how to cross-train in other areas of the hospital so they can more effectively help in areas where staff are stressed or short on people.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy exploring the outdoors with my wife, Jenny and our 2-year-old son, Wade. Activities include but are not limited to: Hide and Go Seek, collecting acorns and other finds while exploring the outdoors, vacuuming, spraying things with a squirt bottle, and playing PacMan, which he calls “NomNom.”

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Working in surgery is very gratifying because we help people extend and improve their quality of life. For me, it’s also fulfilling to see the relationship that develops when experienced nurses, physicians and techs share their knowledge with someone new. The bond and respect built by these relationships creates a very diverse and resilient surgery team.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Maintaining a work/life balance.

What has changed in your field since you started practicing?

The progress made in transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been a real benefit for patients who need heart surgery but are less likely to do well with a traditional open-heart procedure.

What advice would you give someone looking to become a nurse?

Having transitioned from a different discipline into an accelerated nursing program and career was bumpy at times. Something I didn’t do but I wish I had would have been to work part time or volunteer in a supporting healthcare role during school. Some of my classmates did this and years later say the confidence they gained from that experience helped them more than anything else. Lastly, remember to assess and keep practicing. It was drilled into my head as a nursing student, but I got away from it because it would take too long, and the work would move on without me. When I practice, I get faster though. This means I am more helpful during the day-to-day stuff and I respond to emergencies effectively instead of with a knee jerk reaction.