There are several values that ECU Health team members strive for on a daily basis: Integrity, Compassion, Education, Accountability, Safety, and Teamwork. While reading the behaviors associated with these values, Amy Hines is the picture of ICEAST values. Amy is a true leader on palliative care with the many hats she wears on a daily basis from unit based council chair, charge nurse to falls quality lead. She is always looking for a way to improve nursing through ICEAST values, including education, accountability, and safety.

No patient wants to celebrate their birthday as an inpatient in the hospital and palliative care is no exception. Palliative care deals with an aspect of life that many do not want to accept, the transition from earth to a spiritual realm. Many patients and families have a difficult time dealing with the transition and it is the work of our nurses that help make this transition peaceful. In regards to integrity and compassion, Amy takes daily strides in showing these values as a nurse, whether she is working or on her day off. F.W., a patient, celebrated a birthday in palliative care, although this patient was not in the best of health or spirits. What patient wants to be in the hospital on their birthday? For two weeks, this patient spoke of their favorite birthday breakfast from McDonald's. This conversation seemed to be the only thing that brought a glimpse of happiness to their face. Amy, being of integrity and compassion, made sure that this birthday did not go unrecognized. On her day off, she made a special trip to McDonald's and a store for birthday balloons. Amy then called the unit to speak with the charge nurse that day and update them on the celebration. Utilizing the values of ICEAST with teamwork, she involved the entire staff with the presentation of their patient's breakfast, balloons, and a birthday song, which brought tears to the patient.

On a separate week, A.G. was another patient celebrating their birthday as well as an inpatient. This patient was not in the best of spirits with health complications. Again, Amy, showing integrity and compassion, presented this patient with a small token for a birthday gift. Although the gift was of little monetary value, the patient's face showed it to be enormous in spiritual and emotional value. Again, Amy utilized the teamwork values, and the entire unit sang to this patient.

For patient X, their family brought a birthday cake as this loved one would not be leaving the inpatient palliative unit. This patient was a UNC tar heel fan and in the spirit of compassion and teamwork, Amy elicited the help of the staff to decorate their room with streamers and balloons. The family of this patient was singing along with the staff and showed great appreciation for the assistance in celebration. Amy strives to show that although many times on palliative care the emotions are sad, they can be joyous with celebration. Some of the patients on palliative care are discharged home with loved ones, but many transition to a more spiritual realm. Palliative care can be a place filled with tears of sorrow, but their can also be tears of joy, and Amy strives to show integrity and compassion with each patient.