Medical ICU Charge Nurses
May 2018
Medical ICU
Charge Nurses
Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital
ICU Charge Nurses
Ruby Herrera, RN
Eunice Pena, RN
Joe Thomas, RN
Suma Neelakandan BSN, RN, CCRN
Debra Raven, RN
Amos Ortiz Jr., RN
Sherri Ferrell, MSN, FNP, CCRN
Ruby Herrera, RN
Eunice Pena, RN
Joe Thomas, RN
Suma Neelakandan BSN, RN, CCRN
Debra Raven, RN
Amos Ortiz Jr., RN
Sherri Ferrell, MSN, FNP, CCRN
These Medical ICU Charge Nurses, CNs, act as the Rapid Response Team, Stroke Code team, the Code Blue Team, and the Difficult IV access Team on top of managing the day-to-day staffing for three ICU units, including medical/surgical, trauma, and neuro.
These Medical ICU Charge Nurses are highly skilled in all critical care procedures and act as a resource for the newer Nurses hired into the ICU. They also act as a liaison between the Intensivist and the ER and/or transfer center. Any new process implemented, the CNs are there to support the ICU.
The CNs are managing 40 ICU beds, and do all they can do to keep us off saturation. The CN is also used as an escort for trauma patients and neuro patients requiring additional testing in Interventional Radiology. When I need things done, they are the ones to ensure it gets done and when staff need something, they are the ones to collect money.
They all work to ensure the CN shifts are covered, for example, a co-worker was sick last week and we didn't have a CN working; Eunice agreed to work the night shift. Ruby Herrera & Joe Thomas lead the group, with Sherri Ferrell, Debra Raven, Eunice Pena, Suma Neelakandan, Chih Hsu, and Amos Ortiz.
How does this project support our mission, vision, values, philosophy, performance measures, and strategies? This team advances health by responding quickly to all Rapid Response calls and mobilizing resources quickly to save lives.
How do they help with ADVANCE? They work closely with ICU, Trauma and Neuro Doctors to ensure they are satisfied and informed with all patient care issues. The CNs also work with the Sound Doctors during the RRT calls and collaborate safe patient care for the patient they are seeing.
Quality? They are involved in auditing, coaching, and mentoring the ICU staff with their findings. For example, skin, restraints, central line, and Foley indications.
Value employees? Both the ICU staff and floor staff appreciate their knowledge and wisdom; these CNs are always available despite having such a huge workload and span of control, but they always manage to help someone asking.
Operational targets? They manage the role of two different people, so there is a cost savings of 4.2 FTE. Every other hospital campus has a separate team to manage RRTs and code blues.
Nurture growth and innovation? The CNs do all they can to keep the flow of patients coming and were involved in the NeuroOne Transfer process to where the transfer center automatically accepts the patient to MHSW and the ICU CN has to find a bed for them. This is in an effort to grow our neuro service line.
Consumer centric? The ICU CNs save lives.
Innovative? Because the CNs work all over the hospital, they see things and bring forth ideas to us for implementation, or they find quicker, more efficient ways of doing things.
The CNs were involved in the redesign of ICU A and C, as well as B. And it was Ruby that proposed the computers in every room when building out ICU E and 7E, for efficiency of RN charting.
Accountable? The CN knows that their shift is a priority. They are always here, or they find a replacement.
Empowered? The CNs manage the unit and make decisions in the moment, for the right reasons. They know when to go on saturation, of course, with a discussion with leadership. The CNs will be involved in interviews and assist in the decision-making of whether to hire or not.
Collaborative? This team works with the OA, the ICU Doctors, the Neuro and Trauma teams, the Nurses throughout the hospital, and their team to ensure safe, quality care.
Compassionate? This team meets the needs of our patients and families, but also the employees throughout the hospital that need additional help. These CNs respond to emergencies and communicate with families and physicians. Occasionally, with such compassionate communication, these CNs have had those difficult conversations with family members to where the treatment led to comfort care, rather than aggressive measures.
Results oriented? This team conducts audits related to our performance measures with CLABSI, CAUTI, SKIN. Currently, we have gone six-seven months without a CLABSI or CAUTI.
One Memorial Hermann? Despite every other campus having a separate Rapid Response Team, this team does it all, managing their unit as well as the entire hospital, for any emergencies, troubleshooting, etc.
Respectful? This team receives thank you letters for responding with professionalism. At no time do any of these CNs judge someone for calling for help. They coach and mentor and treat the situation.
***
Team Members honored with this DAISY TEAM Award:
Ruby Herrera, RN
Eunice Pena, RN
Joe Thomas, RN
Suma Neelakandan BSN, RN, CCRN
Debra Raven, RN
Amos Ortiz Jr., RN
Sherri Ferrell, MSN, FNP, CCRN
These Medical ICU Charge Nurses are highly skilled in all critical care procedures and act as a resource for the newer Nurses hired into the ICU. They also act as a liaison between the Intensivist and the ER and/or transfer center. Any new process implemented, the CNs are there to support the ICU.
The CNs are managing 40 ICU beds, and do all they can do to keep us off saturation. The CN is also used as an escort for trauma patients and neuro patients requiring additional testing in Interventional Radiology. When I need things done, they are the ones to ensure it gets done and when staff need something, they are the ones to collect money.
They all work to ensure the CN shifts are covered, for example, a co-worker was sick last week and we didn't have a CN working; Eunice agreed to work the night shift. Ruby Herrera & Joe Thomas lead the group, with Sherri Ferrell, Debra Raven, Eunice Pena, Suma Neelakandan, Chih Hsu, and Amos Ortiz.
How does this project support our mission, vision, values, philosophy, performance measures, and strategies? This team advances health by responding quickly to all Rapid Response calls and mobilizing resources quickly to save lives.
How do they help with ADVANCE? They work closely with ICU, Trauma and Neuro Doctors to ensure they are satisfied and informed with all patient care issues. The CNs also work with the Sound Doctors during the RRT calls and collaborate safe patient care for the patient they are seeing.
Quality? They are involved in auditing, coaching, and mentoring the ICU staff with their findings. For example, skin, restraints, central line, and Foley indications.
Value employees? Both the ICU staff and floor staff appreciate their knowledge and wisdom; these CNs are always available despite having such a huge workload and span of control, but they always manage to help someone asking.
Operational targets? They manage the role of two different people, so there is a cost savings of 4.2 FTE. Every other hospital campus has a separate team to manage RRTs and code blues.
Nurture growth and innovation? The CNs do all they can to keep the flow of patients coming and were involved in the NeuroOne Transfer process to where the transfer center automatically accepts the patient to MHSW and the ICU CN has to find a bed for them. This is in an effort to grow our neuro service line.
Consumer centric? The ICU CNs save lives.
Innovative? Because the CNs work all over the hospital, they see things and bring forth ideas to us for implementation, or they find quicker, more efficient ways of doing things.
The CNs were involved in the redesign of ICU A and C, as well as B. And it was Ruby that proposed the computers in every room when building out ICU E and 7E, for efficiency of RN charting.
Accountable? The CN knows that their shift is a priority. They are always here, or they find a replacement.
Empowered? The CNs manage the unit and make decisions in the moment, for the right reasons. They know when to go on saturation, of course, with a discussion with leadership. The CNs will be involved in interviews and assist in the decision-making of whether to hire or not.
Collaborative? This team works with the OA, the ICU Doctors, the Neuro and Trauma teams, the Nurses throughout the hospital, and their team to ensure safe, quality care.
Compassionate? This team meets the needs of our patients and families, but also the employees throughout the hospital that need additional help. These CNs respond to emergencies and communicate with families and physicians. Occasionally, with such compassionate communication, these CNs have had those difficult conversations with family members to where the treatment led to comfort care, rather than aggressive measures.
Results oriented? This team conducts audits related to our performance measures with CLABSI, CAUTI, SKIN. Currently, we have gone six-seven months without a CLABSI or CAUTI.
One Memorial Hermann? Despite every other campus having a separate Rapid Response Team, this team does it all, managing their unit as well as the entire hospital, for any emergencies, troubleshooting, etc.
Respectful? This team receives thank you letters for responding with professionalism. At no time do any of these CNs judge someone for calling for help. They coach and mentor and treat the situation.
***
Team Members honored with this DAISY TEAM Award:
Ruby Herrera, RN
Eunice Pena, RN
Joe Thomas, RN
Suma Neelakandan BSN, RN, CCRN
Debra Raven, RN
Amos Ortiz Jr., RN
Sherri Ferrell, MSN, FNP, CCRN