I would like to start off by saying that this team collaboration effort fully embodies our UTMB vision “We Work Together to Work Wonders.” In the almost 10 years that I have been employed within our health system, I have never been a part of a more deserving team of The DAISY Team Award than the one I am on now. Much like gardening, a workplace culture needs the proper care and attention in order to see its employees bloom to their full potential. Our nurse leader is savvy enough to understand that and simply provided the support we needed to blossom. As a team, we have come together to serve our community by participating in drives such as “Beat the Heat Drive”, that provides necessary items to the homeless that are vital during our summer Texas months. We also came together to provide military families with “Back to School” supplies. During Christmas time, the spirit of giving was nothing short of merry. Our unit adopted a family for Christmas and made sure to cross each item off their wish list. These are just a few events that our unit rallied around to come together as team. Giving to others encompasses and uses all parts of ourselves to make a positive difference in our world which is why we decided to give back to Maria, our unit housekeeper. We showered her with our appreciation during Christmas & our unit also threw her a 25-year work anniversary party to honor her dedication to her job. She maintains our space clean in order to perform our work in a clean environment as well as provides a sense a cleanliness for our patients while they are away from home. Giving is love in action and love is the common thread that runs through every human being which is also why when we heard that multiple co-workers (nurses and physician) were going to be blessed with babies, we did not hesitate to host baby showers for them all. Our teamwork has been impeccable this year to say the least. Majority of our staff participated in CRP to ensure staffing not only on our unit but wherever there was a unit in need during the staffing crisis. Also, our HUCS came together to formulate a plan to best ensure that all shifts would have the essential support of a HUC. They adjusted their schedules in order to provide the extra support nurses need during their shifts and to increase patient satisfaction scores. I have noticed that any time staff members need vacation, right behind them are fellow co-workers willing to step up and cover the holes in the schedule. This just shows how much mutual respect we have for one another. We demonstrate advocacy for our patients in the way collaborate with one another. Together, nurses/pcts/physicians, we have but one priority in mind- our patients. For example, we have one of the best rates for discharges. In order to do our due diligence, we make sure to facilitate barriers to discharges by holding POCR rounds at 9am sharp. We want our patients to be discharged safely and efficiently. By holding on to our patients longer than needed- we only increase their risk of acquiring a hospital infection. Every staff member is fully committed to serve our purpose as health care professionals. Trust and friendship are vital elements in this type of profession. All in all, there is a genuine camaraderie on the 10D Family Medicine unit that has allowed our garden to bloom a unit full of deserving DAISIES.

***

This team of nurses saved my life in November. On this particular day not only was I a coworker but also quickly became a patient. Upon arriving to the unit for my scheduled shift, I informed Maureen O. that I was not feeling to well, I had begun having chest pains on my drive into work. She immediately had my blood pressure checked (which was elevated), as my color was greyer than it should be they demanded that I go to the emergency room and get checked out. They called the COA to inform Vicki what was going on and found a wheelchair to transport me. When in the ER I was found to be having an NSTEMI with an initial Trop. of 5.6, my condition required an urgent Heart Cath, which found that my LAD was 99.9% blocked, and without the dedication to coworkers and patients in need I would have literally died that morning on 10D. This team of nurses are way more than just my coworkers they are my lifesavers. I will be eternally grateful for each and every one of them always. This team deserves recognition.