The Neurosurgical ICU (NSICU) nursing team at Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center provides exemplary nursing care for all of its patients. This nurse-led team fosters a comfortable healing environment while cultivating a safe atmosphere for patients, families, and facility personnel. This team continues to go above and beyond, regardless of circumstances, to acknowledge and address patient needs. The team consists of 100 nursing staff members with 48 certified nurses, 36 of whom have furthered their careers via the hospital's clinical ladder advancement system.

Nursing staff continually addresses needs that surpass the standard of care, which include but are not limited to: patient spa days consisting of in-depth baths, haircuts, shaves, and skin care regimens, taking patients outside for vitamin D absorption, fresh air, and endorphin release, and facilitating patient celebrations with treats (ex. birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones).

Most notably, this critical care unit has instilled unit-based initiatives to optimize the patient healing process and patient safety. The "stroke response nurse" role was implemented to identify and treat acute strokes in a timely and safe manner, increasing stroke response time within the hospital, leading to the hospital earning and maintaining recognition as a comprehensive stroke center. The unit has also embarked on a pilot to see the effect that music therapy has on their stroke patients. A music therapist routinely visits the unit to complete therapy sessions with a variety of stroke patients, and if successful healing is observed, this technique will be incorporated into the rest of the hospital. The NSICU continues to shine through its innovative ways of caregiving, with aims to provide the best possible care.

Despite all of the work the NSICU nursing team does for its patients, the group does not hesitate to take care of each other. The NSICU has embarked on numerous wellness endeavors to help mitigate symptoms of nurse burnout. Nursing staff members created a "wellness room," steps away from the unit to prevent nurse burnout. Members of the nursing staff are able to utilize this room when feeling overwhelmed, fatigued, stressed, etc. as a way to maintain the work-life balance. This nurse-driven initiative allows members of the team to take time for themselves so that they are able to better care for their patients. The NSICU has also added a lunch relief nurse, who comes in on both day and night shift during peak lunch hours to ensure that staff are able to take their breaks. These wellness initiatives allow nursing staff to give back to patients because they are recharged and ready to resume ICU-level patient care.

The NSICU continually strives to serve its patients in the best manner possible, and this is evidenced by its high Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Scores. This nursing team consistently receives some of the highest scores within the hospital, and for good reason. In 2024, the NSICU received recognition on local and national levels. The NSICU was the recipient of the AACN Beacon Award for Excellence: Silver designation, which recognizes the NSICU for exceptional patient care and a healthy work environment. Within Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, the NSICU was recognized as the Most Improved Neurology Unit for CLABSIs as well as Top Performers in Patient Experience for "Would Recommend" and "Nurses Courteous and Respectful." The NSICU also demonstrated Gold Level Performance for Teammate Engagement in 2024. These recognitions speak to our staff's commitment and dedication to patient care and highlight the unit as a top-performing unit within the hospital. 

What has been described is only a glimpse into the quality of work that we do in the NSICU every day. It is because of these reasons that I believe the NSICU deserves the DAISY Team award.