I wanted to share my ICU week experience with you.  Without a doubt, there is a genuine feeling of "family" amongst the ICU nursing team which in my 22 years of CCM stands out. There is a sense of duty ... mission to help each other out as we care for our patients. 

Kathleen - She was on the SCU floor with me for a couple of hours as we managed a critically ill patient alongside the SCU nurse including changing hemodynamics and coordination for airway management. What stands out the most about Kathleen is her sheer calmness, clarity of closed loop communication and clinical acumen. 

Cindy - Rounding on mobility rounds with Cindy was effective with her input, up to date data sheet and led discussions about mobility alongside PT/OT. She followed up during the day with bed flow updates and was seen helping other nurses who were facing various challenges with patient demands. 

Gretchen - Rounding on mobility rounds and coordinating care was with clarity and openness to discuss mobility as well as devices.  In addition, she managed incredibly with resolve and calmness with the events of Thursday re bed 4. She met the challenges of that day at multiple dimensions. 

Maura - She was instrumental with coordinating and facilitating goals and plan of care for ICU 5. She was present on bedside rounds and genuinely was a part of the discussion and impacting the teams' plans... This is KEY for having the voice and participation of nursing during rounds. 

Lindsey - She demonstrated absolute commitment to the family's wishes for obtaining a second opinion at an OSH ....  she actively participated on ICU rounds, sharing family updates and coordinating records for outside review. She attended rounds each day and was active in the participation which is essential ... Lindsey communicated updates throughout the day and was always open to stopping and having a discussion about the patients update. 

John - He was at each bedside rounds, active with updates and was helpful throughout the day as the patient in ICU 1's status changed during the day. John was always open to pausing and talking about the patient, never rushed and clearly was passionate about his mission to care for the patient and be a part of the team ... The residents also commented on his openness to talk. 

Frank - His passion was felt each day as we rounded on ICU bed 1 and throughout the day with updates and communication. He was active on bedside rounds, which is essential for the team as we develop our plan of care ... he suggested ideas and was up to date on input from consultants, which was helpful to myself and the team in navigating our plan of care for the day. This is efficiency ... this is collaborative care ... this is teamwork 

Bitu:  She was present for the daily morning rounds, was instrumental in the transition of care when the patient came down from SCU to the ICU ... updating on hemodynamics, vasopressors, gas exchange and laboratory timing for testing ... she was comforting to the family of ICU 5 and provided myself and the team with updates. 

Alyssa: She led the care for ICU 5 by providing active real time updates, coordinating communication between palliative care medicine, CCM team... multiple times during the day she approached me with updates and addressed my concerns. At one point she offered help on another patient I was managing who was not her patient ... testament to the family mantra of the icu nursing team. 

To the other nurses I came across and interacted with ... each demonstrated mission, purpose, and professionalism. 

I wanted to share my appreciation for you - Alissa ... 
Your presence has provided the team with leadership skills such as support, encouragement, mentorship, and caring. It truly stood out on Thursday in the midst of all the rapid changes of the day ... [-] 4 beds, the emotional stress of ICU 4 ... The team huddle you led was with the resolve to support YOUR team ... and they, as did I, felt it. 

I hope to be able to participate in the relaxing stone next time I stop by the unit ... 

That simple yet powerful exercise enhanced the team's ability to pause, breathe, and feel human --- through art. 

I appreciate every one.