4C Department at Mercy Iowa City
May 2023
4C Department
at Mercy Iowa City
Mercy Hospital Iowa City
Iowa City
,
IA
United States
The 4C department exemplifies Mercy Iowa City’s mission, vision, and values in many different ways, every single day. They are continuously working as a team to make a difference for our patients, our patient’s family members, their peers, and the community we serve. Despite patients not staying a long time on 4C, the impact and effect this team has upon the patients are huge. The amount of “Thank You” letters, treats, and acknowledgments received show what an impact the nursing care they provide has on our patients. The breakroom bulletin board is on its way to being full of “Thank You” cards for the second time in about one year. This team has even been given a “thank you” on a napkin! The nursing knowledge provided by the 4C team is a rare find. With longevity and low turnover, this team has worked together for many years. Each year comes with new challenges, new faces, and new learning opportunities.
The 4C team dives in with a positive attitude and a need to do the best for their patients. This team is not limited to nurses but also includes Nursing Technicians, Unit Clerks, and leaders. The nursing staff cannot do their jobs effectively without the Nursing Technicians and Unit Clerks. They are as big of an asset to the operations of the 4C department as the nurses. The 4C team is independent. The operations and functions of the department run so well that the Manager trusts their decision-making regarding staffing, patient flow, and budget operations. Staff nurses who have never been oriented to the charge nurse role step into this position and make decisions about the operations of the unit. Nurse Techs take on the Unit Clerk roles by answering the unit phone calls in addition to their patient call lights. Unit Clerks deliver warm blankets and refreshments to patients when the nurse techs are busy with the overwhelming number of patient calls lights coming through. When functioning independently the 4C teams pulls together even more to make sound decisions, work together as a team, and think about the “big picture.”
As a leader of this department, I cannot express how much this team works together when under stressful situations. They have fun and make our workplace a home away from home. You often hear laughter from the nurses station even during busy days. This group always tries to make light of stressful situations and come together with laughter and positivity. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful team and feel that I am the luckiest leader to call these individuals my employees and coworkers. I cannot think of a team more deserving of this award.
The 4C team dives in with a positive attitude and a need to do the best for their patients. This team is not limited to nurses but also includes Nursing Technicians, Unit Clerks, and leaders. The nursing staff cannot do their jobs effectively without the Nursing Technicians and Unit Clerks. They are as big of an asset to the operations of the 4C department as the nurses. The 4C team is independent. The operations and functions of the department run so well that the Manager trusts their decision-making regarding staffing, patient flow, and budget operations. Staff nurses who have never been oriented to the charge nurse role step into this position and make decisions about the operations of the unit. Nurse Techs take on the Unit Clerk roles by answering the unit phone calls in addition to their patient call lights. Unit Clerks deliver warm blankets and refreshments to patients when the nurse techs are busy with the overwhelming number of patient calls lights coming through. When functioning independently the 4C teams pulls together even more to make sound decisions, work together as a team, and think about the “big picture.”
As a leader of this department, I cannot express how much this team works together when under stressful situations. They have fun and make our workplace a home away from home. You often hear laughter from the nurses station even during busy days. This group always tries to make light of stressful situations and come together with laughter and positivity. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful team and feel that I am the luckiest leader to call these individuals my employees and coworkers. I cannot think of a team more deserving of this award.