alain chica, RN

Alain Chica is a MICU unit at the Durham VA Health Care System. During the height of the pandemic, the MICU was designated as a COVID. The unit also experienced staff shortages during this time. There were many days on the unit when there the staffing was inadequate, however we had Veterans that needed our care. Alain often offered to come in and support his teammates by working additional shifts. He often floated to various units, assisting them as well with Veteran care. Alain was a model of excellence in patient care as he was a preceptor and a resource for other nurses as continuous replacement therapy was utilized on the unit. One night, the MICU had 8 ventilated patients, all COVID positive. Staff in the MICU were overwhelmed with the workload and emotionally drained from the day-to-day care of COVID patients. Alain, in addition to his own patient load, went around the unit and assisted his coworkers with the care of their patients. He assisted with turning patients, bathing patients, routine med passes, supplying rooms with needed items, and other tasks. He did this without complaint or without prompting. Alain demonstrates respect to staff that are floated to MICU from other units and assists them with becoming comfortable to the MICU setting. He provides high quality nursing and ensures every Veteran is given world class care.