The RN and RCP teams exemplified teamwork and collaboration to effectively provide ICU level of care for a patient during a shift when PICU was at a critical census. The nursing team on the floor worked out a staffing plan amongst a group of 4 RNs to provide aggressive pulmonary toilet every 15 minutes. They requested for additional support from the respiratory care team to help initiate the continuous albuterol treatment (over 6 hours) and assist in monitoring the patient until a PICU bed was available.
Knowing that there is limited capacity in the PICU, the team provided care that the patient required at the time. Even though it was not a mode of therapy that the floor team was familiar with, they quickly learned to protocol through a review of the policy, medication reference, and guidance from their respiratory care team colleagues.
The Respiratory and RN teams remained flexible and adaptable in adjusting their workload to accommodate the nursing care needs of the patient in order to achieve the best outcome for him until a PICU bed was available.