The SICU nursing staff received a patient who exhibited medical complexities as well as an intricate family dynamic. This was a very unstable trauma patient that went through multiple surgeries, and the team had to work through multiple family issues, which empowered our nurses to be advocates for the patient. This story highlights our service standards of personalized care and safety. Our nurses had the courage and credibility to do what was right while showing compassion and community for the family and friends of the patient.

The patient was intubated for most of their stay in the SICU, which required the family to make decisions on the patient’s behalf. The family dynamics were very complex and often our nurses were placed in the middle. All sides wanted what was best for the patient but didn’t always agree on the course. Through the entire admission, the team remained steadfast as patient advocates and made sure that the patient’s best interests always prevailed. Once the patient was alert enough to make their own decisions, the patient was given the option of who they wanted as visitors, and this was met with controversy.  The staff was able to protect the patient and knew that the environment and visitors contributed to the healing process. This process included multiple family meetings, scheduled timed visits, multiple calls, and numerous updates to multiple parties. 

Thanks to the dedication and courage of these nurses, this patient has a new start on life with minimal deficits to show for it. This patient has come back to SICU numerous times over the past couple months. The credibility of success for the patient is because of the SICU nursing staff’s sustained efforts of premier care.

This embodies our values of Courage by always advocating for the patient. Making sure the family dynamics did not interfere with care, the team continued to support the family with compassion. There was a large sense of community with this patient due to the nature of the incident and the staff worked together with multiple disciplines. Continuously advocating for the patient took courage; the team balanced supporting the family by allowing them time to cope while preventing them from interfering with the patient’s wishes. The sense of community from the SICU team allowed the nursing staff to be a united front while successfully working with multiple disciplines involved in patient care. 

By emphasizing and exhibiting Memorial Hermann The Woodlands’ mission, visions and values from patient advocating, patient outcome, and the experience for the patient, the team remained professional, attentive, and hospitable. Their actions and responses created an exceptional outcome.  Through all the added interactions and interruptions to their normal nursing duties, the SICU team kept their credibility through poise and professionalism. The team embodied everything that it means to work for Memorial Hermann.