Bill has spent most of his 25 years in the ICU. He works as a preceptor, not only training new staff to critical care, but also new graduates to the health care profession. He works as a charge nurse allotting staff and resources on a shift-by-shift basis and acting as a resource for the ICU. He also teaches classes on how to place arterial lines and use of ultrasound to increase our staff's skill set and meet our patients' needs more quickly. He stays up to date on the most recent evidence-based practices and is a leader for change on the unit.

Bill is the best advocate that I know. He is a voice for the patient who is unable to speak. He is a voice for the new nurse who is learning to gain their confidence. He is a voice for the senior staff member who needs a colleague in their corner. I would also add here that Bill is a cheerleader. He celebrates all victories great and small and is the go-to for support or validation. Many times, when a patient ‘graduates’ out of the ICU either the patient and/or their family stop by our unit later to share their gratitude for the part that our team has played in their recovery. Time and time again when this happens they ask specifically if Bill is working. He has partnered and connected with our patients and their families so well that he has become a staple in their life-story. All of our ICU’s thank you cards name Bill directly as a reason they had motivation to continue their recovery with a partnering RN that believes in them. He is known for saying “I love us” anytime we have reason for celebration, crediting the whole team for our victories.

The goals for the ICUs, the staffing grids, and the practice and policy changes have changed drastically over 25 years. In all the time that I’ve known Bill, he wants to do best by his patients, his team, and his hospital. He holds himself accountable for new information via email, stays current with AACN journal articles, CEUs, and his critical care certification. Any time we are challenged with a new process, he is known for saying, “It’s like a real ICU here today!”, facing barriers with a positive attitude and a strive for knowledge on how to do the best job he can. For all of the reasons listed above, Bill is a strong leader, doing so by example. He sets high standards for himself and his team. He makes it a point to check on staff who seem to be struggling, either personally or professionally. He takes staff out sailing on his boat to allow his colleagues an opportunity decompress, process, heal, and possibly learn a new skill.

During busy shifts he makes a charcuterie board in the break room and pushes staff to at least get a few bites to nourish themselves. He is also known for making the world’s strongest coffee, AKA nurse fuel. There have been times during the pandemic where I’ve felt burnt out, and Bill will swoop in and cover a shift later for me that week-stating, “I’m investing in your healing and I want you do to the same.” Bill has been a nurse at St. Mary’s hospital for 25 years. If that statement alone doesn’t speak for the type of nurse that Bill is, one would only need to ask his peers or his patients. Bill is a leader in the MICU in more ways than one. He is committed and excited about new developments in nursing practice and he is truly invested in making positive and impactful change that will benefit his team. Bill has seen this MICU through a pandemic and has come out just as eager, just as positive, and just as caring. He challenges his peers by asking pointed and thoughtful questions. He doesn’t presume to have any or all the answers, rather he wants his team to be empowered to help come up with solutions.

Bill does small acts of kindness such as making wickedly strong espresso, filling pill cups with high quality dark chocolate chips and dispersing them amongst his team and providing delicious nutty bread with butter for all to enjoy during the busiest of shifts. These small acts create an environment that allows everyone to bask in the little joys that Bill offers and for a moment let go of some of those “pebbles in our shoes” that sometimes seem to take up more of our day than those little bright spots. Bill invests in his team because he knows with a good team, great things can happen. He has been witness to some of the most positive outcomes to come out of MICU and he is committed to showing his team that these things can and should continue to happen.

He also works hard to ensure everyone has the opportunity to advance their clinical skills as they want to. He teaches arterial line insertion courses for our staff which enables them to have more independence at the bedside, which in turn may positively impact their experience. When his team is in a more positive state, patient care is also positively impacted. If there is one thing that Bill does exceptionally well, it is delivering compassionate patient care.