The PICU team has been a phenomenal team over this past year, and they have worked together to handle many stressful situations. Everywhere that you look, there is a nurse who is deserving of the DAISY Award. The COVID pandemic has impacted the families and patients in the PICU because of the visitor restrictions, but this has not stopped the PICU team from making sure that each patient and family feel supported. This has added a lot of pressure for the PICU team because the nurses have not only filled the role of nurse, but they have become family for many of the patients and family members at the bedside. On countless occasions, the nurses have brought clothing for their patients, particularly the patients that are financially strained. There are many difficult social situations in the PICU, but the PICU staff remains focused on caring for the patient and doing the best job that they can. Recently, one patient only wanted blue Gatorade, and the hospital did not have this flavor, so the nurse brought a case in the next day. Another hem/onc patient wanted to have her nails done, so this nurse surprised her with color street nails the next day. There is also a “PICU-UP” cart in the PICU that has food, drinks, and supplies for the families in the PICU. The PICU staff does a great job keeping this cart stocked with items that families find comforting during their PICU stay. Most importantly, the PICU staff does an incredible job with the dying child. The work that this team does with these patients and families exceeds expectations every time. When a child is dying, the PICU team pulls together in a way that is almost indescribable. It starts with nurses wanting to support the family in any way that they can. This may mean that they pick up an extra shift to care for this patient or work well past their 12 hours to continue care for the dying child. One PICU nurse advocated for bereavement trays for the families during the death and dying time, and this is now a process that is done in the PICU.

I have a few specific examples that will show the team going above and beyond. There was a child that passed away that had hand molds done at the bedside, but it was found out that the name on the hand mold was spelled wrong. The child was already at the funeral home, but this CNA knew how devastated the family would be if they did not receive these special hand molds that were done before their child died. This CNA drove all the way to the funeral home and re-did the hand molds. This was an act of kindness that is above and beyond anybody’s expectations. This kind of thing happens daily inside the walls of the PICU.

In another example, a hem/onc patient was dying and he loved superheroes. A PICU nurse went to the store and bought canvases to make handprints and footprints of this child. On the canvas, the handprints and footprints were drawn as Thor, The Hulk, Iron Man, and Captain America. This nurse did this on her own to provide a meaningful remembrance for this family. The care delivered by the nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, CNAs, chaplains, and all others is done with compassion and empathy.

Today, as I write this nomination, a physician was at the bedside during rounds and was tearful with a family because he wanted to do everything in his power to heal their daughter. Last week, another group of physicians, met with a family and was also very tearful when describing the care that has been provided to their child, and this meant the world to this family. The memories that the PICU team creates for these families are priceless, and I have been speechless many times when I hear about what this team does on a daily basis. These are just a few examples of the outstanding work that this PICU team does on a daily basis.
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To say that the cases in this unit have been profoundly sad and complex is an understatement. The reason I am reaching out to you today is to say how utterly impressed I have been with your team as they have navigated these difficult cases. The care that has been provided has been, as always, top-notch. The way that your staff has advocated for patients and families is remarkable. Even in the face of impending death, your team has made sure to provide the best death possible for patients and their families. What has struck me the most, and that is saying a lot in light of the numerous examples of excellent care, is the teamwork. Your nurses have always been there for one another. When one nurse has had to step away from the sadness another nurse has stepped in to provide the needed time for relief and regrouping. Just today when I was on the unit, one nurse came up to me to let me know about another nurse who was having a difficult time. This nurse went out of her way to make sure her colleague had the necessary support to make it through this shift and come back tomorrow to provide spectacular care to some of our sickest pediatric patients.

I would be remiss if I did not make explicit the fact that this exemplary teamwork and care would not be possible without your incredible leadership. You do such an amazing job stewarding your team through even the most difficult of times. It is a privilege to work with you and your team and I wanted to say “thank you” for all you and your team do to make WCH an incredible place to work!

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The Pediatric ICU is an intense place to work. The team itself endures laughs, heartaches, controlled chaos, teamwork, patience, dilemmas, empathy, and so much more. As a member of the PICU team, I can wholeheartedly say that the PICU functions so smoothly on a day to day basis because of the outstanding management staff. Each assistant manager comes in daily with a smile and a positive attitude. Tahir, Nikki, Kayla, Krysti, and Christina are the backbone of this unit and function proficiently under an incredible nurse manager, Nicole. Each individual is always available to lend a helping hand, teach, share tears, encourage others, and most importantly control the chaos that may arise in the ICU. Without this amazing team, the PICU would not function as smoothly as it does.

Our team members, patients, and families are lucky to have such a dedicated and hard-working management team. The PICU is able to achieve better patient and family outcomes because of their incredible leadership skills. The staff and I are so thankful for the outstanding work they perform to assist the staff and maintain the focus on patient and family-centered care. The pediatric ICU at Wolfson Children's Hospital is lucky to have these individuals as leaders. Thank you Nicole, Tahir, Nikki, Krysti, Christina, and Kayla for all you do. 

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The PICU team, through their interpersonal and interdisciplinary collaboration, delivers patient and family-centered care throughout every shift. They overcome every boundary that arises in order to provide life-saving care that aligns with the mission of Wolfson Children's and Baptist Health. 

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I’ve been a part of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Wolfson Children's Hospital for over 6 years now and I have always been so proud to say that I am a member of this team. This unit cares for the most critically ill patients that roll through the doors of the hospital, but consistently maintains professionalism, compassion, and positivity for patients, family members, and peers. The PICU has created a culture that aims to prioritize patient care and safety, and promote a positive work environment that staff want to be a part of. Every moment of the day this team is focused on selfless acts and displaying what it means to be a team player. Our staff will hold boxes of tissues for grieving parents, stay late to help with staffing, go to the aid of other units when they need an extra helping hand and they will do all of this without skipping a beat. The Pediatric ICU is most deserving of the DAISY Team Award. Thanks to the PICU Interdisciplinary Team for all they do for our patients, families, and each other. We are so fortunate to have each of you share your many gifts with us at Wolfson Children's Hospital.