“When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the beautifully broad spectrum of the human experience...” -Jaeda Dewalt

The team of nurses in 8 west has not only shown resilience during the height of the pandemic, but they have also shown compassion and a way to interact with their patients as humanly possible. They are the unsung heroes of this organization, coming to work armored with courage, kindness, and willingness to serve humanity during their most vulnerable time. The team had built processes and methods to ensure that their patients are safe, including themselves as they help fight the vicious, visible enemy. Innate to this group is their approach to ensure that patients communicate with their loved ones using technology such as FaceTime. They don’t hesitate to assert and ask for an exception for families to see their loved ones for the last time once they know that their patient is nearing the end of life. They pray with them, sing with them, and cry with them during their most vulnerable time. They became surrogate family members, and provide human touch and interaction when nobody can give that to them.

8 west staff go above and beyond by serving the inpatient units to transport Covid patients or PUIs. It is normal for them to help any unit where their skill and expertise are needed, such as when there was a need to intubate a PUI in MRI one Saturday afternoon. The Covid transport nurse assisted the physician while intubating the patient and provided expertise to avoid accidental exposure while performing an aerosolizing procedure outside the Covid area. Their experiences and processes serve as a foundation for how other units care for their own Covid patient population. Thank you, 8 West, for continuing to provide excellence in human caring through the toughest times in our lives. You deserve this award.