6NW Pediatrics at UCLA Health
August 2024
6NW Pediatrics
at UCLA Health
UCLA Health
Santa Monica
,
CA
United States
Raynell Bales, BSN, RN
Meredith Buffon, MSN, RN, CPN
Andrielle Tiu, BSN, RN
Ariel Hale, BSN, RN
Andrea Gonzalez-Karch, BSN, RN, PED-BC
Carol Avalos, BSN, RN, PNCB
Amy Goldberg, MSN, RN, CPNP, NE-BC, CPN
Cristina Perez, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC
Esther Lee, BSN, RN
Karina Lozano, BSN, RN
Breanna Buenafe, BSN, RN
Lisa Cies, Child Life Specialist
Gary Iriza, BSN, RN
Meredith Buffon, MSN, RN, CPN
Andrielle Tiu, BSN, RN
Ariel Hale, BSN, RN
Andrea Gonzalez-Karch, BSN, RN, PED-BC
Carol Avalos, BSN, RN, PNCB
Amy Goldberg, MSN, RN, CPNP, NE-BC, CPN
Cristina Perez, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC
Esther Lee, BSN, RN
Karina Lozano, BSN, RN
Breanna Buenafe, BSN, RN
Lisa Cies, Child Life Specialist
Gary Iriza, BSN, RN
All around great service, empathetic, and above and beyond care
***
I have worked at multiple hospitals in my decade as an RN and hospital employee. I have never felt as much support, from all aspects, as I have on this Unit. The support is palpable from management to the nurses to the care partners to the respiratory team and the environmental team. It's as if there's some sort of telepathy where things get done without the request or delegation being spoken out loud. I am beyond grateful for this job, and I know that these people and everyone in my outside life know this as well. Thank you, team, for being friends, colleagues, and superheroes.
***
Our all-star Pediatric Team has continued to shine with compassionate care towards our patients/families and colleagues. Our unit continues teambuilding activities and projects within and outside the hospital to maintain cohesiveness. In collaboration with Child Life, we participate in monthly "day of the week" celebrations to engage with our interdisciplinary teams and patients. Our team receives stellar feedback from travel nurses requesting to extend their contracts and/or permanent positions with us. It's an honor to be part of this amazing pediatric team!!
***
Our leadership team is one of a kind; we feel supported, encouraged, and respected by our managers. Every team member (RN, CCP, UD, CNM, educator, CNS, social worker, and CLS) respects one another, is reliable, holds each other accountable for patient care, and brings something unique to the team. We exemplify great communication and listening to our coworkers and patients/ families. 6NW has accomplished three distinguished goals, which have influenced and increased staff commitment to patient safety and CLABSI-free for 5 years, implemented fall precautions, and improved IV access. To achieve CLABSI-free for 5 years, our unit implemented multiple measures. Every nurse diligently completed nightly ADM rounding online for our central lines. We started using color-coded IV-line stickers indicating dates and times to change lines. Additionally, all nurses and care partners educated parents on the importance of CHG wipes, and most of our patients were CHG-compliant. The CLABSI bundle on EPIC ensured our nurses that we did our due diligence to prevent any infections. Our new grads completed a fall prevention project. Most falls usually occur with syncopal episodes in our MSP population. We have added gait belts to each room and educated staff on using them. Additionally, we have a Golvo bar hanger for the maxi move to assist/ prevent syncopal episodes. We have been fall-free for over 1 fiscal year now! Lastly, to improve patient comfort and experience, we have an ultrasound to assist with IV placement. We have 10 nurse champions who we can count on for IV placements. We have a dream team working on 6NW!
***
This unit is filled with incredible nurses who are so kind and helpful towards one another. I was a bystander charting and observed how well the nurses on the unit helped each other. One nurse asked another nurse, are you ok? How can I help? Looks like you’re busy. The other nurse responded I’m ok for now, but thank you. The following week, I saw the unit director going around and checking to see how the nurses were doing and even relieving the staff, who typically sits at the information desk to answer call bells. There’s also wonderful pharmacy staff who work together with the different teams. The Pediatrics Department at SM UCLA Medical Center functions together like a dream team! You’ll experience a culture of mutual respect and support at every level amongst your colleagues. Everyone is committed to their patients, lending a helping hand, and fostering an environment of collaboration and encouragement!
***
When you look up the definition of "Dream Team," you will see all the caring faces of the UCLA Santa Monica Pediatric team. The entire unit works together to provide extraordinary care with compassion. They live the mission and vision of UCLA and the City of Santa Monica. The nursing team works effortlessly with the interdisciplinary team, from the physicians to spiritual care, child life, and other care teams. Pediatrics strives to improve health and promote resiliency and safety (both physical and emotional). They truly demonstrate what it means to alleviate suffering and heal humankind. The Pediatric team exemplifies what it means to respect and effectively communicate with peers and other care teams. They help each other with day-to-day patient-centered interventions and motivate one another's professional growth and contributions to the pediatric units' goals of providing exceptional clinical services. Pediatrics has had many changes, especially this past year, some expected and some not; regardless, this amazing Dream Team continues to "work seamlessly and enthusiastically to inspire and provide exceptional service."
***
I have worked at multiple hospitals in my decade as an RN and hospital employee. I have never felt as much support, from all aspects, as I have on this Unit. The support is palpable from management to the nurses to the care partners to the respiratory team and the environmental team. It's as if there's some sort of telepathy where things get done without the request or delegation being spoken out loud. I am beyond grateful for this job, and I know that these people and everyone in my outside life know this as well. Thank you, team, for being friends, colleagues, and superheroes.
***
Our all-star Pediatric Team has continued to shine with compassionate care towards our patients/families and colleagues. Our unit continues teambuilding activities and projects within and outside the hospital to maintain cohesiveness. In collaboration with Child Life, we participate in monthly "day of the week" celebrations to engage with our interdisciplinary teams and patients. Our team receives stellar feedback from travel nurses requesting to extend their contracts and/or permanent positions with us. It's an honor to be part of this amazing pediatric team!!
***
Our leadership team is one of a kind; we feel supported, encouraged, and respected by our managers. Every team member (RN, CCP, UD, CNM, educator, CNS, social worker, and CLS) respects one another, is reliable, holds each other accountable for patient care, and brings something unique to the team. We exemplify great communication and listening to our coworkers and patients/ families. 6NW has accomplished three distinguished goals, which have influenced and increased staff commitment to patient safety and CLABSI-free for 5 years, implemented fall precautions, and improved IV access. To achieve CLABSI-free for 5 years, our unit implemented multiple measures. Every nurse diligently completed nightly ADM rounding online for our central lines. We started using color-coded IV-line stickers indicating dates and times to change lines. Additionally, all nurses and care partners educated parents on the importance of CHG wipes, and most of our patients were CHG-compliant. The CLABSI bundle on EPIC ensured our nurses that we did our due diligence to prevent any infections. Our new grads completed a fall prevention project. Most falls usually occur with syncopal episodes in our MSP population. We have added gait belts to each room and educated staff on using them. Additionally, we have a Golvo bar hanger for the maxi move to assist/ prevent syncopal episodes. We have been fall-free for over 1 fiscal year now! Lastly, to improve patient comfort and experience, we have an ultrasound to assist with IV placement. We have 10 nurse champions who we can count on for IV placements. We have a dream team working on 6NW!
***
This unit is filled with incredible nurses who are so kind and helpful towards one another. I was a bystander charting and observed how well the nurses on the unit helped each other. One nurse asked another nurse, are you ok? How can I help? Looks like you’re busy. The other nurse responded I’m ok for now, but thank you. The following week, I saw the unit director going around and checking to see how the nurses were doing and even relieving the staff, who typically sits at the information desk to answer call bells. There’s also wonderful pharmacy staff who work together with the different teams. The Pediatrics Department at SM UCLA Medical Center functions together like a dream team! You’ll experience a culture of mutual respect and support at every level amongst your colleagues. Everyone is committed to their patients, lending a helping hand, and fostering an environment of collaboration and encouragement!
***
When you look up the definition of "Dream Team," you will see all the caring faces of the UCLA Santa Monica Pediatric team. The entire unit works together to provide extraordinary care with compassion. They live the mission and vision of UCLA and the City of Santa Monica. The nursing team works effortlessly with the interdisciplinary team, from the physicians to spiritual care, child life, and other care teams. Pediatrics strives to improve health and promote resiliency and safety (both physical and emotional). They truly demonstrate what it means to alleviate suffering and heal humankind. The Pediatric team exemplifies what it means to respect and effectively communicate with peers and other care teams. They help each other with day-to-day patient-centered interventions and motivate one another's professional growth and contributions to the pediatric units' goals of providing exceptional clinical services. Pediatrics has had many changes, especially this past year, some expected and some not; regardless, this amazing Dream Team continues to "work seamlessly and enthusiastically to inspire and provide exceptional service."