The PCU team always goes well and truly beyond for their patients. While there are many stories that could be told to show this, the one that shows this best is that of a patient K.D. K.D. was a relatively young woman that had her life very quickly fall apart leaving her in very poor condition. Prior to admission, she was relatively healthy and able to take care of herself. By the time, she was on PCU she was basically completely dependent on others to meet almost all of her needs and required machines to help keep her alive. She ended up being in the PCU for almost a year. During this time, the team stepped up in incredible ways for her on a daily basis. The staff created a daily calendar to encourage K.D.’s engagement with her care. Each day would have some form of activity that the staff would help her to be able to participate in. These activities would range from having simple things such as washing her hair to arranging for her to be able to play different games or put together puzzles. One of her favorite activities were spa and “mani/pedi” days where staff, both nursing and physical therapy/occupational therapy, helped to paint her nails. They also arranged for her favorite bands to be played and even videos of their concerts played for her. On other days, the staff would have some of her favorite movie and tv series marathons.  

As she spent several holidays with the team, the team worked hard to make sure that each holiday was special and meaningful. This took various forms depending on the holiday. For some, it involved staff bringing in decorations to make the room more festive. For some holidays, it was simply window clings, but for some, it was more involved. For the 4th of July, the nurses made sure that she was able to see fireworks both through her window which was somewhat limited, and a better display on a tablet. 

While the team made each week and particularly the holidays extremely special, it was towards the end of her hospital stay that the nurses again proved their care. Over the course of her admission, she grew weaker. Our nurses continued to support both K.D. and her family as they had to have some difficult conversations about end of life. Our nurses help to advocate repeatedly for her to be made comfort measures only per her request. This involved many conversations with different provider teams and family members to get everyone on the same page with the plan of care. In the end, one of nurses held her hand as K.D. was taken off the ventilator and she passed. Her passing was difficult as K.D. had become almost part of the PCU family during the year she spent with us.
 
While her care was a team effort involving the entire PCU team and much of both the PT and OT teams as well, there were a few people in the team that were extremely instrumental in going above and beyond, including Brittany Steidl RN, Rachel Daly RN, Gabby Verespey RN, Leeanne Bayo MSOTR/L, and Christen Timms PT, DPT. The PCU nursing team is led by Dana Cacioppo RN, Candace Cremard RN, Allison Walsh RN, Liz Lanigan RN, and Brittany Steidl RN. The therapy staff is led by Christen Timms.