Brandi is the kind of nurse who sets the bar. It’s a bar that most of us will never meet. One morning, I was walking by Brandi’s room. She was diligently explaining to this patient and their family the importance of getting up and walking. She explained that getting up and walking was going to be one of the hardest things the patient had ever done. She explained to the family how important they were in helping the patient be successful. The patient needed to walk 200 feet. While 200 feet isn’t usually a daunting task, for an ICU patient who is intubated, it is like climbing Mt. Everest.

The patient was up and going. When they made it 150 feet, they were exhausted. Brandi took the time to emphasize how hard the patient was working. After the patient took a rest, Brandi went into cheerleader mode. She cheered the patient on all the way back to their bed. What the patients and their families do not understand is that the mobility protocol Brandi pushed gives this patient a true shot at getting back to life. It keeps them strong. It keeps their brain going. It decreases delirium. Walking 200 feet is the beginning of the rest of their lives. This patient and their family will never understand just how far Brandi went on this specific morning. The patient was on CRRT, and the nurse ran dialysis, but the line was clotting. The patient also needed a scan and a procedure done. Brandi reached out to the nephrologist and explained the situation to the doctor. Brandi was able to get the patient's blood returned. She had set up to get the scan and the procedure done while she was waiting for new orders and new supplies. After the procedure was finished, Brandi made sure the patient walked before being re-started on CRRT. Brandi truly understands the importance of walking intubated patients. She understands that mobilizing won’t be any easier if you take a break today. Mobilizing every day opens doors. It gives patients a chance to live the best life possible.

Every shift, Brandi shows up ready to work. She believes in our values. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible is done through her commitment to mobilizing patients every day. It helps keep the patient strong. It’s not just about surviving the ICU. It’s about returning to life. Brandi serves with empathy, caring for each patient, caregiver, and member with compassion and respect. Brandi realizes that what she is asking patients to do is hard, getting up and walking, but that it will only be harder tomorrow.

When Brandi isn’t working with her patients, she can be found in other rooms. She is diligently working to pass the knowledge on to the next generation of nurses. Brandi is always approachable and willing to jump in. Because she is so approachable, our new nurses always ask questions. No task is too big, too small, or too messy for Brandi to help. Being approachable has opened doors for communication. Staff often reach out to Brandi outside of work hours. They call to decompress or seek validation in their thoughts and feelings. Brandi’s ability to show compassion to patients and coworkers allows her to be a safe space to speak freely and get honest feedback. Her leadership in the unit allows her to take what she hears and escalate concerns as needed. This allows the unit to be a safe place for not just patients but for staff. She sets the bar for what a nurse should be at a whole new level.