A patient on the Medical Respiratory Intensive Care Unit was intubated for pulmonary hypertension with high ventilator settings. He wasn’t eligible for a tracheostomy and the team was having a hard time weaning his ventilator. 

Patrick became his nurse at the most critical time. 

He stayed with the patient to calm him while weaning his sedation. This prevented the patient from desaturating and needing medication boluses. Patrick utilized several communication methods and calming techniques. He spent an hour utilizing the white board for communication and leveraging family support to calm him down. This action allowed the patient to be weaned off sedation and the patient began to improve. 

Then, Patrick mobilized the patient to the chair. 

Patrick isn’t the type to tell people what he did, but his time with the patient is a big part of him being alive today.