This month’s Day in the Life takes you inside a day of Nicole Durko, MD, Associate Chief of the Division of Obstetric Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine. From leading patient care at Missouri Baptist Hospital to cheering on her son’s hockey team, Nicole balances a demanding career with family life, fitness, and plenty of St. Louis adventures.
WORKDAY
4:30 a.m. – Wake up, grab breakfast (always with a Diet Coke), and review the patient board before I even step into the shower. This helps me start the day already knowing who I’ll be caring for.
5:00–6:00 a.m. – Shower, tidy up the house, and make sure everything is ready for my kids’ school day since I’ll be away for 24 hours.
6:30 a.m. – Arrive at the hospital. We do change-of-shift with the anesthesiologist and two CRNAs coming off the night shift. After handoff, the day takes off quickly.
Morning–Afternoon – The hours are filled with labor epidurals and C-sections. Our service is busy and fast-paced but incredibly rewarding. Alongside clinical care, I’m often juggling administrative responsibilities: patient consultations, pharmacy discrepancies, supply chain issues, and meetings that keep our OB anesthesia service running smoothly.
3:00 p.m. – I try to give my CRNAs a break around this time and personally cover most of the cases. It’s important to me to support the team and ensure everyone gets a moment to breathe during a long day.
Evening–Overnight – The pace never really slows down. OB is a 24/7 specialty, and the calls can come at any hour. By the time morning rolls around, I’ve usually been through a mix of deliveries, emergencies, and late-night consultations.
Non-Workday
6:30 a.m. – Wake up and start the day by taking my daughter, Nina, a 10th grader at Villa Duchesne, to school.
7:30 a.m. – Head to Shred415, my “home away from home,” where I love to work out and have made many friends.
Late Morning – Usually a quick stop at the grocery store, then grabbing a salad at Sportsman’s Park between meetings.
Afternoon – With the house quiet, I usually return to administrative tasks at my computer and catch up on projects. On some days, I even have free time to volunteer at my kids’ schools—working in the Villa Boutique at Nina’s school or serving lunch at Drake’s school, Chaminade.
Afternoon–Evening – Family time is the priority. Nina (15) keeps me busy with homework and field hockey, while Drake (17), a junior at Chaminade College Preparatory School, has a packed hockey schedule. Thankfully, since he drives himself, that part is a little easier.
Night – I wind down by spending time with my family, knowing another busy workday is always just around the corner.
