Jim Gleckler, a Registered Nurse with Public Health

It just takes one person to save a life. And for a gentleman on the evening ferry headed from Seattle to Bainbridge Island on July 18, that person was a quick-thinking King County employee.

It began with the announcement that there was a medical emergency. A passenger was having trouble breathing and ferry crew members had responded. When they realized he needed medical attention, a call was put out for medical professionals who could assist. That’s when Jim Gleckler, a Registered Nurse with Public Health, stepped forward.

“He had stopped breathing and had no pulse when I assessed him, and his pupils were fixed and dilated,” said Jim. “I called for the AED and started CPR, and was soon joined by a doctor who was on her way home.”

An AED is an automated external defibrillator, and an Ambu bag is a mask with a bag and valve used for manual resuscitation.

“She ‘bagged’ him with the Ambu bag while I did compressions. The AED shocked him twice and then his pulse was reestablished,” he said. “I did what any other nurse would have done. I focused on keeping his blood circulating and the AED restored his rhythm.”

Jim relied on his CPR skills and nursing training to evaluate the situation and respond in the right manner. CPR-certified since 1985, Jim has served as a nurse in the King County Correctional Facility in downtown Seattle for over 24 years. Initially attracted by an ad that read “If you are a nurse with a sense of humor, come work at the jail,” he took a tour of the facility on a whim and was immediately impressed. He continues to enjoy the challenges and changing atmosphere of being a nurse in his position.

“We take care of a high needs population in a non-healthcare setting,” he explains. “It requires a broad knowledge base and good assessment skills, as you never know what will happen next.”

“I haven’t had two days that were in the same in almost 25 years.”

While his previous background ranges from farming in Pennsylvania to working as a Certified Nurseryman in Texas, Jim considers nursing to be his true calling.

“A friend had asked me ‘You like taking care of plants, why don’t you consider taking care of people?’ And I have never regretted going into nursing.”

In his lengthy nursing career, Jim has attended to other medical emergencies, many on his regular commute from Bainbridge to the downtown jail. These include a seizure, diabetic emergencies, a car/skateboarder accident and a bike accident, among others. He reminds everyone to be alert in these situations, and unafraid to get involved.

“I have had other emergencies on the ferry before, but this was my first time using CPR when not at work,” he said. “When these situations happen, always ask for the AED.”

“Don’t be afraid to use it, they are very user-friendly, even for lay people. And of course, call 911!”

Jim shared his business card with the family during the ordeal so they could keep him updated on the patient. He is happy to hear that the gentleman is recovering nicely after having open-heart surgery.

“It’s been satisfying to hear the updates from the family,” he said. “In most other situations I haven’t gotten to hear about the outcomes, and one always wonders how things turn out.”

Thanks to Jim and his clearheaded decision, a life was saved and a connection was made that shows the compassion and capability of nurses in public health and what it means to be a King County employee.

This story first appeared in KOMO News as “Quick-thinking ferry passengers, crew members save man’s life.” It did not mention Jim, but thankfully staff recognized him and suggested we speak to him about his experience. If you would like to become CPR certified, please sign up for an upcoming employee class.

Dijana Steward, IT Project Manager and member of the KCIT Employee Engagement Committee

By Dijana Steward, IT Project Manager and member of the KCIT Employee Engagement Committee

In July, King County IT CIO Bill Kehoe and I were asked to participate in the “Diversity Panel and Resources Event for Tech Industry Career Opportunities” event, an evening-long program hosted by the Department of Community and Human Services to provide insight and inspiration to people of color in their quest to build a career in technology. Bill was on the employer leadership panel and I was on the “this is how it really is” diversity panel.

I was a little nervous. I was concerned about being so transparent with my own journey and some of the not-so-refined methods I used for gaining traction in my career.

Bill went first and I could tell by the temperature of the audience that I was going to have to “come correct” and do it right and honestly, or not at all. While sitting in front of all of those beautiful people of color, eager to hear something that resonated with them, my nervousness turned into pride.

You see, I’ve worked really hard to get to a place where I could tell someone else about my journey. The audience asked everything, “How did you get your start and technology?  What’s been the hardest thing to overcome?  Do you have a degree?  What’s your day like?  Are you happy with where you are in your career?  What’s next?” Well, I’ll be honest with you, “What’s next?” is something that I asked myself on daily basis.

I tried to answer the questions honestly.  I told myself that if I wasn’t going to be completely honest about the journey that I wouldn’t answer the question. So, bit by bit, I talked about being a single parent working on weekends with my son in the office. I talked about taking every opportunity offered to me.

Suddenly that stage and the barriers shrunk and it became an intimate setting. Before long we were exchanging quips and funny anecdotes that helped to punctuate my story.

‘What’s next’ came earlier than I thought!

As the event concluded, Bill and I were approached by wave after wave of people who wanted to know more about King County’s IT department and my personal journey.  I’ve never been so honored to tell my story.  Because I work with mostly Caucasian people, I usually keep the details of my life to myself.  It’s not glamorous and, I assume, not relatable to many people.

Bill introduced me to two young women who were looking for a mentor.  I’ve never mentored anyone (other than being a parent). In fact, I’m on the search to find a mentor for myself, but Bill had a look of confidence on his face, so I took his lead and gave the young women my business card and encouraged them to reach out.

The very next day, I received an email from one of the young women telling me how much she appreciated the time we took to speak the night before and how she’d like to meet and talk about a mentor/mentee opportunity. I met with her a few weeks ago and was floored by what an awesome young woman she is, but I also found it really interesting that with all of her qualifications and personality and zest for life, I saw in her that she lacks the confidence to take risks in her career.  We have now cemented our relationship and I am really excited for this mentoring opportunity.

Over the next year, our mission will be getting her confidence to a place where she will actively and systematically go after opportunities.  I will share my experiences and help her move forward. My mentee is currently applying to the Ada Developers Academy for coding.  It’s a very competitive all female training program in Seattle and my mentee is dying to get in.  Most of me is rooting for her, but there is a small portion of me that is planning the pivot I will teach her when things we want so badly don’t manifest for us.  We’ll see.  Either way, I believe that warm evening with my brothers and sisters of varying shades changed me and reminded me that anyone with drive can have exactly what they want.

To connect with Dijana about her work promoting diversity in KCIT, email her at dijana.steward@kingcounty.gov.

In the August 27 edition of the Seattle Times, the King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s Internship Program was mentioned in the “Rant & Rave” section for empowering teens and youth. The mention went as follows:

“RAVE For King County’s wastewater treatment high school internship program and their staff. The students started with the thought that government doesn’t care about the average citizen and ended feeling empowered to participate in decision making and making our community a better place for everyone. Incredible growth was demonstrated during the students’ end-of-program presentations.”