At Atrium Health Mercy, our healthcare providers provide care to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing for all.  The DAISY Team Award recognizes that to achieve better patient and family outcomes starts with a nurse and takes an entire team to implement successfully.  This award should be given to staff on 2 North, Dietary, Environmental Services, and Clinical Care Management.  We have an amazing staff on 2 North, a medical-surgical unit, that has gone above and beyond for a particular complex patient, RT. The core values of our organization including teamwork, commitment, caring, and integrity were driven by the entire nursing staff; more specifically, Anne Downer, Taylor Lowe, Kia Smith, Melanie Johnson, Sandee Hargro, and of course Misty Walton our nurse manager. The nursing assistants including LaTonya Thomas, Blondyde St Fleur, and Sonie Allison provided patient-center care and advocated for this patient who was unable to advocate for himself.  Without a doubt, Tydashia Martin, who works for Dietary, provided exceptional care, provided specialized food choices, and was RT’s preferred dietician.  The environmental services members collaborated with the team to ensure a safe and clean environment for RT.  Dominque Stywalt with Clinical Care Management worked endless hours to find placement for RT diligently to ensure proper placement. 

On 2 North, we have 16 medical beds that range from observation patients to long-term patients that are difficult to discharge due to placement challenges.  RT was a patient that was transferred from another hospital in October 2021 and was discharged in March of 2023.  RT was a challenging patient with numerous chronic illnesses including a stroke with right-sided weakness, schizophrenia, PTSD, global aphasia, legally blind, edentulous, and photophobia.  RT had numerous behavioral issues including episodes where he was noncompliant, verbally aggressive, and at times physically aggressive.   He had difficulty expressing his needs due to his condition and would throw food and feces.  Ultimately, RT was a vulnerable patient that required individualized care plans to ensure his safety and others.  

The concepts that make up our professional practice model are the heart of our nursing practice and guided decisions when taking care of RT. Our unit considered RT family as we learned his ins and outs, favorite snacks and food, and TV channels.  His room was always dark, and a sign was kept on his door, “Please Do Not Turn Light On.”  Most of the patient care was done in the dark as he was more compliant and became upset if we turned on the light.  The patient had limited vocabulary, yet he let staff know what he desired such as “Coke, Sprite, Strawberry Ensure, BET, the Weather Channel, popcorn, and cookies.” Unfortunately, there was minimal family support.  Staff brought candy, snacks, and finger food that RT loved, which improved his overall quality of care.  We were able to utilize the drinks and food that he desired to allow the healthcare team to clean walls, floors, chairs, and anything that was contaminated.  He was scared of water as his family told us stories of his past when he was in the military.  RT had his preferred healthcare members that he would allow to bathe him, put on briefs, and take his medication.  Our unit and all the departments learned to appreciate his quirks.  RT will always be remembered on our unit.