Michael Blomquist
January 2015
Michael
Blomquist
,
RN, CCRN
MICU
The University of Kansas Health System
Kansas City
,
KS
United States
After many years at the bedside, Michael continues to positively impact the quality of care and patient safety through his involvement as an education specialist for the simulation training center.
It is with the utmost enthusiasm that I provide my support for Michael Blomquist's nomination for the National Patient Safety Foundation's DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Michael is an extraordinary nurse! Patient safety, communication, and advocacy are the cornerstones of Michael's practice as a Unit Coordinator in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at The University of Kansas Hospital. His passion for exceptional practice is evident in everything he does for patients and peers. Michael is a valuable resource for his peers. He is regarded as the go-to individual on all clinical issues because of his expert skills. Michael is able to share his clinical knowledge because he is also an excellent communicator who is very approachable. Both licensed and unlicensed staff will seek out Michael's advice and help. Patients and families also listen to Michael. He has the ability to communicate in a meaningful way at every level.
Not only do people understand the information Michael shares, but Michael can say things in a way that unites people even in the most serious of circumstances, he helps everyone get on the same page. Impeccable communication is a key component of patient safety, and Michael has mastered patient-centered communication with his team as well as with patients and their families. Michael also shares his clinical expertise with our Rapid Response Team. Michael was an original member and coordinator of the Hospital's Rapid Response Team many years ago and continues to be a team leader. He went on to develop Rapid Response Team Boot Camp. This multi-hour course is designed to teach new rapid response team providers how to care for declining patients and to understand the provider's role, standards of care, and resources available to provide the best care possible. Many other hospitals have sought Michael's advice when trying to replicate the Boot Camp at their organization. Michael has willingly shared his time and details on this course. It would be impossible to quantify the impact Michael has made in the lives of others. Michael's commitment, passion, and expertise make him an excellent and deserving candidate for this award. Thank you for the opportunity to recognize this outstanding nurse.
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Michael Blomquist is a highly experienced critical care nurse who has been influential in a frontline leadership position for the past 15 years. As an ICU charge nurse, he has been responsible on a day-to-day basis for promoting safe and quality patient care through direct mentoring and coaching of staff nurses at the bedside. His encouragement during daily rounds has had significant positive impact on the near-zero performance with never events such as CAUTI, CLABSI, VAP, HAPU, and other patient safety indicators. He is regarded by staff as the expert nurse with knowledge of evidence-based practice and critical thinking that can only be refined through years of experience.
10 years ago, he was part of the founding members of the nurse-driven rapid response program and has personally responded to over 5000 events himself. His direct experience has helped create protocols, guidelines, and a comprehensive training program for the team members to ensure the highest level of care is consistently provided to patients in crisis. To maintain his expert clinical resourcefulness for the hospital, Michael is always bettering his level of proficiency.
For example, he became an instructor in various certification programs such as ACLS and TNCC. He continuously reviews rapid response and code quality data to try and find opportunities for improvement. Through such efforts, he helped implement the use of capnography monitoring on patients receiving PCA-controlled analgesia to prevent opioid-induced adverse events. He has championed the use of non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring equipment during rapid responses to better manage fluid resuscitation in hypotensive patients, with the goal of stabilizing the patient on the unit and avoiding unnecessary transfer to a higher level of care.
Although Michael's reliable intuition in knowing just how to manage a patient in crisis is valued, Michael's biggest contribution to patient safety is his skilled communication. It would be easy to slip into auto-task-mode and manage the situation based on algorithms and protocols. However, Michael always ensures he puts the patients and families at ease, talking to them and tailoring his interventions to their unique situation and their needs. There are many moments under pressure where coordination of care is challenged and disagreed upon. Michael is able to smoothly and efficiently communicate with all the various providers to ensure the best outcome for the patient. This approach has not only saved lives, but in the most compassionate manner that is satisfactory to those affected most. After many years at the bedside, Michael continues to positively impact the quality of care and patient safety through his involvement as an education specialist for the simulation training center. Thank you for honoring Michael Blomquist's long-standing commitment to patient safety through his efforts as a respected charge nurse with high performance and safety standards, his work as leader of the rapid response team, and his continued efforts at improving the quality of care through simulation training.
Not only do people understand the information Michael shares, but Michael can say things in a way that unites people even in the most serious of circumstances, he helps everyone get on the same page. Impeccable communication is a key component of patient safety, and Michael has mastered patient-centered communication with his team as well as with patients and their families. Michael also shares his clinical expertise with our Rapid Response Team. Michael was an original member and coordinator of the Hospital's Rapid Response Team many years ago and continues to be a team leader. He went on to develop Rapid Response Team Boot Camp. This multi-hour course is designed to teach new rapid response team providers how to care for declining patients and to understand the provider's role, standards of care, and resources available to provide the best care possible. Many other hospitals have sought Michael's advice when trying to replicate the Boot Camp at their organization. Michael has willingly shared his time and details on this course. It would be impossible to quantify the impact Michael has made in the lives of others. Michael's commitment, passion, and expertise make him an excellent and deserving candidate for this award. Thank you for the opportunity to recognize this outstanding nurse.
***
Michael Blomquist is a highly experienced critical care nurse who has been influential in a frontline leadership position for the past 15 years. As an ICU charge nurse, he has been responsible on a day-to-day basis for promoting safe and quality patient care through direct mentoring and coaching of staff nurses at the bedside. His encouragement during daily rounds has had significant positive impact on the near-zero performance with never events such as CAUTI, CLABSI, VAP, HAPU, and other patient safety indicators. He is regarded by staff as the expert nurse with knowledge of evidence-based practice and critical thinking that can only be refined through years of experience.
10 years ago, he was part of the founding members of the nurse-driven rapid response program and has personally responded to over 5000 events himself. His direct experience has helped create protocols, guidelines, and a comprehensive training program for the team members to ensure the highest level of care is consistently provided to patients in crisis. To maintain his expert clinical resourcefulness for the hospital, Michael is always bettering his level of proficiency.
For example, he became an instructor in various certification programs such as ACLS and TNCC. He continuously reviews rapid response and code quality data to try and find opportunities for improvement. Through such efforts, he helped implement the use of capnography monitoring on patients receiving PCA-controlled analgesia to prevent opioid-induced adverse events. He has championed the use of non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring equipment during rapid responses to better manage fluid resuscitation in hypotensive patients, with the goal of stabilizing the patient on the unit and avoiding unnecessary transfer to a higher level of care.
Although Michael's reliable intuition in knowing just how to manage a patient in crisis is valued, Michael's biggest contribution to patient safety is his skilled communication. It would be easy to slip into auto-task-mode and manage the situation based on algorithms and protocols. However, Michael always ensures he puts the patients and families at ease, talking to them and tailoring his interventions to their unique situation and their needs. There are many moments under pressure where coordination of care is challenged and disagreed upon. Michael is able to smoothly and efficiently communicate with all the various providers to ensure the best outcome for the patient. This approach has not only saved lives, but in the most compassionate manner that is satisfactory to those affected most. After many years at the bedside, Michael continues to positively impact the quality of care and patient safety through his involvement as an education specialist for the simulation training center. Thank you for honoring Michael Blomquist's long-standing commitment to patient safety through his efforts as a respected charge nurse with high performance and safety standards, his work as leader of the rapid response team, and his continued efforts at improving the quality of care through simulation training.