ICU Nursing Team
January 2021
ICU Nursing Team
ICU
Swedish - Edmonds
Edmonds
,
WA
United States
Erica Ciak, Robin Hayward, Casey Berry, Emily Schvlarick, Victoria Plores, Patty Palmer, Giselle Deibler, Erica McCartney, Jenny Day, Rosalinda Gonzales, Amy Becroft, Corenne White
It is without hesitation that I write this letter in support of the Swedish Edmonds ICU staff for the DAISY Team Award. Throughout my 32-year career, I have worked with a wide variety of clinical staff and support teams. The ICU/IMCU staff here at Swedish Edmonds is truly an extraordinary group of dedicated professionals. The quality performance of this team is evident by their low CLABSI rates and zero CAUTI and falls with harm in 2019 and 2020. This is an extraordinary accomplishment because this was also during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did this team continue to provide high-quality and safe care, but they also continued to push for improvements within our mobilization program.
What further sets this team apart is the manner in which they approached the impact of the pandemic on their unit. First off, they volunteered to be the pandemic unit, which meant that they received all of the in-patient COVID-19 patients. They embraced the challenge and the increased workload, modified their clinical practice to meet the needs of these critical patients, and did so with unmatched professionalism and dedication. As they gained more and more experience with caring for these challenging patients they continually learned and improved their processes to ensure they were providing the best care they could for each patient within their charge. On top of this, they continued to pursue an improved mobility program, resulting in an abstract submission to AACN on early mobility, further demonstrating their commitment to seeking evidence-based practice changes to improve the care that they provide to their patients.
***
The nurses in the 13-bed ICU at Swedish Edmonds place patient safety as their highest priority. Their recent abstract submission to AACN on early mobility demonstrates their tenacious commitment to continuous best practice changes. Another safety improvement initiated this year was Patient and Visitor initiated RRT. This initiative is now in the process of being rolled out throughout the Swedish System. We also created a formalized process for Bedside Safety Checks for all patient handoffs. Our process has been adopted by the system and written into the Critical Care Scope of Practice as well as being written into formal policy. This unit has seen only one CLABSI (during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic) in the last 7 years. There have been no CAUTI and no Falls with Harm in 2019 or 2020.
During the pandemic, nurse-driven initiatives such as awake proning were developed and trialed here before being instituted throughout the Swedish system, decreasing the number of patients requiring intubation due to Covid-19. It is also not uncommon to see patients who have been intubated for weeks being wheeled outside to get a half hour of sunshine during their recovery period. The Swedish Edmonds ICU nurses stepped up and cared for up to 18 ICU patients by expanding the physical boundaries of the unit into the neighboring IMCU. They readily sought out and adopted expanded measures to conserve PPE while providing quality patient care. Innovations such as managing multiple IV pumps outside the patient room, mock Code Blue drills to ensure caregiver safety while providing emergent ACLS response, and the creation of a Code Blue bag to bring PPE and intubation supplies to Code Blue events to help protect providers. We also developed signage for patient rooms around masking and hand sanitation during the pandemic. These signs have been adopted by the system and will be permanently displayed in all patient rooms and visitation areas.
After the peak of the Covid pandemic, the Critical Care caregivers have embraced the journey to wellness by partnering with IHI's Joy in the Workplace initiative. Utilizing the initiative's structure, nurses are identifying and developing processes to remove the pebbles in their shoes so that they can sustain their commitment to patient safety through resiliency and joy. These nurses are committed to each other and to the patients they serve. I am honored to lead this group of remarkable individuals.
***
It has been nearly two years since my mom was admitted to the ICU. The trauma of the nearly month-long stay has started to fade, yet one thing will never fade: the memories of the compassionate care that she received from the entire ICU staff. While we may not remember the names of all of her caregivers, we will never forget how they made us feel. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of that time and the Extraordinary Nurses who cared for my mom.
In addition to the strong clinical skills of the staff, we witnessed many touching moments during our stay. Several of the nurses would talk softly to her and explain every process and medication, even though she was sedated. They would introduce themselves and give her words of encouragement. Some nurses would massage her head and hands, even putting lotion on her hands and feet. I remember hearing nurses tell her that she was so strong and so loved and that she would fight this battle. They went the extra step to ensure Mom was pampered as much as possible. I vividly remember the moment Mom had to be intubated. Nurse Mike was there with her and held her hand the entire time. We have a very large family, including Mom’s four brothers and sisters and all of their spouses and children. Someone was with Mom around the clock. We were in the waiting room at all hours and were constantly calling for updates. Every nurse took the time to patiently update us, no matter how many times we called or asked.
I called to check in personally every night at shift change and spoke to the same nurses over and over. They always took the time to comfort me and give me updates on progress or setbacks. Not only were we always there, but Mom was also in isolation, so every visitor required specific precautions. No one ever seemed bothered by this extra burden, in fact, they were happy we were there and encouraged the visiting. Through the many tests, procedures, medication changes, and even a code, they never once wavered in their compassion for our family. We almost lost my mom, but thankfully, she is a fighter, and she had the support of your wonderful ICU Team to get her through this battle. Without their support, advocacy, and care, I don’t believe the outcome would have been the same. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to this group of wonderful caregivers. Thank you for helping us through this dark time with your lightness.
What further sets this team apart is the manner in which they approached the impact of the pandemic on their unit. First off, they volunteered to be the pandemic unit, which meant that they received all of the in-patient COVID-19 patients. They embraced the challenge and the increased workload, modified their clinical practice to meet the needs of these critical patients, and did so with unmatched professionalism and dedication. As they gained more and more experience with caring for these challenging patients they continually learned and improved their processes to ensure they were providing the best care they could for each patient within their charge. On top of this, they continued to pursue an improved mobility program, resulting in an abstract submission to AACN on early mobility, further demonstrating their commitment to seeking evidence-based practice changes to improve the care that they provide to their patients.
***
The nurses in the 13-bed ICU at Swedish Edmonds place patient safety as their highest priority. Their recent abstract submission to AACN on early mobility demonstrates their tenacious commitment to continuous best practice changes. Another safety improvement initiated this year was Patient and Visitor initiated RRT. This initiative is now in the process of being rolled out throughout the Swedish System. We also created a formalized process for Bedside Safety Checks for all patient handoffs. Our process has been adopted by the system and written into the Critical Care Scope of Practice as well as being written into formal policy. This unit has seen only one CLABSI (during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic) in the last 7 years. There have been no CAUTI and no Falls with Harm in 2019 or 2020.
During the pandemic, nurse-driven initiatives such as awake proning were developed and trialed here before being instituted throughout the Swedish system, decreasing the number of patients requiring intubation due to Covid-19. It is also not uncommon to see patients who have been intubated for weeks being wheeled outside to get a half hour of sunshine during their recovery period. The Swedish Edmonds ICU nurses stepped up and cared for up to 18 ICU patients by expanding the physical boundaries of the unit into the neighboring IMCU. They readily sought out and adopted expanded measures to conserve PPE while providing quality patient care. Innovations such as managing multiple IV pumps outside the patient room, mock Code Blue drills to ensure caregiver safety while providing emergent ACLS response, and the creation of a Code Blue bag to bring PPE and intubation supplies to Code Blue events to help protect providers. We also developed signage for patient rooms around masking and hand sanitation during the pandemic. These signs have been adopted by the system and will be permanently displayed in all patient rooms and visitation areas.
After the peak of the Covid pandemic, the Critical Care caregivers have embraced the journey to wellness by partnering with IHI's Joy in the Workplace initiative. Utilizing the initiative's structure, nurses are identifying and developing processes to remove the pebbles in their shoes so that they can sustain their commitment to patient safety through resiliency and joy. These nurses are committed to each other and to the patients they serve. I am honored to lead this group of remarkable individuals.
***
It has been nearly two years since my mom was admitted to the ICU. The trauma of the nearly month-long stay has started to fade, yet one thing will never fade: the memories of the compassionate care that she received from the entire ICU staff. While we may not remember the names of all of her caregivers, we will never forget how they made us feel. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of that time and the Extraordinary Nurses who cared for my mom.
In addition to the strong clinical skills of the staff, we witnessed many touching moments during our stay. Several of the nurses would talk softly to her and explain every process and medication, even though she was sedated. They would introduce themselves and give her words of encouragement. Some nurses would massage her head and hands, even putting lotion on her hands and feet. I remember hearing nurses tell her that she was so strong and so loved and that she would fight this battle. They went the extra step to ensure Mom was pampered as much as possible. I vividly remember the moment Mom had to be intubated. Nurse Mike was there with her and held her hand the entire time. We have a very large family, including Mom’s four brothers and sisters and all of their spouses and children. Someone was with Mom around the clock. We were in the waiting room at all hours and were constantly calling for updates. Every nurse took the time to patiently update us, no matter how many times we called or asked.
I called to check in personally every night at shift change and spoke to the same nurses over and over. They always took the time to comfort me and give me updates on progress or setbacks. Not only were we always there, but Mom was also in isolation, so every visitor required specific precautions. No one ever seemed bothered by this extra burden, in fact, they were happy we were there and encouraged the visiting. Through the many tests, procedures, medication changes, and even a code, they never once wavered in their compassion for our family. We almost lost my mom, but thankfully, she is a fighter, and she had the support of your wonderful ICU Team to get her through this battle. Without their support, advocacy, and care, I don’t believe the outcome would have been the same. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to this group of wonderful caregivers. Thank you for helping us through this dark time with your lightness.