The number of MICU patients boarding in SICU increased in 2016 following an increase in MICU patient volumes. The SICU nursing staff was struggling to adjust to a nonsurgical patient population and a new intensivist team. The intensivist team was challenged by the physical distance between MICU and SICU. Jackie Thoryk was the first nurse practitioner to join the MICU team. She faced not only the difficulty of defining a new role within the intensivist team but also the existing location and unit culture barriers to teamwork. Jackie has developed her role with outstanding professionalism, fostered interdisciplinary team cohesion, and contributed significantly to improved patient outcomes.
There are numerous examples of Jackie's good work. When a complicated patient suffering from leukemia was boarding in SICU, Jackie recognized the SICU nursing staff's need for additional education and provided clinical support and a teaching session. When an alcoholic patient displayed a questionable change in mental status, Jackie called the patient's primary care provider to clarify the patient's baseline mental status, a conversation that significantly impacted clinical expectations and care. Jackie has arranged numerous family meetings for terminally-ill patients and communicated diligently with SICU nursing and leadership to ensure the bedside nurse's presence and participation in these difficult discussions.
We are deeply thankful for the way that Jackie cares for patients, nursing staff, and the MICU team to promote the best possible outcomes for everyone.