Ian Marconi has worked in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) for 10 years and during this time, he has consistently demonstrated his care and compassion for his patients. Ian has the ability to soothe and calm his patients, eliciting a sense of safety and security with humor, wit and personality. Even our most difficult patients and families respond to him in a positive manner. The SICU is a very busy and intense environment. Our critically ill patients and their families are often intimidated by the sights and sounds of the unit as well as the unfamiliar equipment attached to their loved one.
Recently, Ian was caring for a patient who was admitted to the SICU with extensive burns. The patient was in critical condition for a number of weeks, requiring multiple surgeries. As her condition improved, her needs changed. Although she had improved medically, she still required an ICU level of care due to the complexity of her daily burn dressing changes and medication requirements. As she became more alert and aware of her situation and surroundings, she became more anxious and apprehensive. In addition, the patient had a tracheostomy, so she was unable to communicate as she would normally, which exacerbated her anxiety. Ian cared for her many times throughout her stay, recognizing her needs as they evolved. To allay her feeling of anxiety, Ian spent time with her to make her feel more comfortable. He explained the care he was providing and ensured that the patient understood the intricacy of her care. Ian recognized that boredom was contributing to her feelings of anxiety, causing her to call out more frequently to nurses and request more medication to ease her anxiety. There were issues with the television in the patient's room, so Ian took it upon himself to rectify the situation. He set up his own Netflix account with speakers on the computer in the patient's room. She was able to watch shows and movies to pass the time, taking her mind off of her situation, relieving her anxiety considerably. As a result, she required less pain and sedation medications, which improved her outcome by decreasing her length of stay and promoting a more positive experience during a very stressful stay in the SICU. This is just one example of the kind of care Ian provides to his patients on a daily basis. He is a very valuable and irreplaceable member of our nursing staff.