It is with great pleasure and gratitude that I submit this nomination for the remarkable ICU team at Newton Medical Center for the prestigious DAISY Award. As an ICU nurse I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and expertise exhibited by this exceptional group of healthcare professionals that I get to call my co-workers.

The ICU team at NMC consistently goes above and beyond in delivering unparalleled care to our most critically ill patients. Their commitment to Newton’s PRIDE values, coupled with their profound empathy and compassion, sets them apart as true champions of patient-centered care.

The Newton ICU team remains versatile to the complexities of the ever-changing ICU environment. Learning new skills as new advances in health care come to our hospital network. Newton’s ICU RNs demonstrate remarkable versatility in navigating the dynamic and intricate critical care environment. They serve as staunch advocates for patients during critical care rounds and provide invaluable mentorship to graduate nurses, bridging the gap caused by the high turnover of experienced staff in this demanding setting. They adeptly respond to emergencies, including code blue situations, rapid response team activations, and code strokes, ensuring swift and effective interventions. Moreover, they continually acquire and uphold proficiency in highly technical procedures such as continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), Impella, and balloon pump management. Additionally, Newton's ICU RNs collaborate closely with physicians, providing vital assistance during invasive procedures and resuscitation efforts, thereby contributing significantly to patient outcomes and overall care quality.

We recently had a patient who exemplified the multidisciplinary collaboration with the ICU team, including the intensivist, pulmonologist, nephrologist, neurologist, Infectious disease, and Respiratory therapist. This was a 62-year-old gentleman with a challenging personality who was admitted with acute respiratory failure. During his hospitalization, he was intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation. He developed dangerously elevated temperatures and eventually developed acute renal failure requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This ICU team worked together using all the tools available to manage the complexities of the patient. They used Arctic Sun to maintain a normal temperature, multiple IV pressor medications to maintain hemodynamic stability, and various sedatives to ensure ventilation compliance. While working with a number of specialists, they took the patient to multiple radiologic imaging tests to rule out infection, internal bleeding, and alterations in brain flow, such as a stroke. Once the nephrologist started CRRT, the nurses monitored lab values every 4-6 hours and replaced electrolytes as needed. They were monitoring vital signs, including intake and output, closely while making adjustments to the CVVH machine and multiple IV pressors accordingly. While treating this patient, the ICU team also treated his family. They kept the family informed, answered questions, and provided a great deal of emotional support. When the family reached the point of discussing end-of-life care, the ICU nurses and physicians again worked together to support the family. The patient ultimately passed away with dignity and with support and acceptance from his caring family. This all while simultaneously managing other critically ill patients with similar circumstances.

In addition to their exceptional clinical skills, the ICU team exemplifies the true essence of teamwork, professionalism, and collaboration. They work together, leveraging each other's strengths and expertise to provide comprehensive, holistic care to every patient under their watch. Their dedication to supporting one another fosters a culture of excellence and camaraderie that is truly inspiring.

Furthermore, the ICU team's compassion extends beyond the bedside, as they consistently strive to ensure that patients and their families feel heard, valued, and supported throughout their healthcare journey. Whether it's offering a comforting word, providing emotional support, or simply lending a listening ear, they embody the essence of compassionate care in every interaction. It is clear that the ICU team at NMC incorporates the core values of nursing excellence, compassion, and dedication that the DAISY Award seeks to honor. Their commitment to providing exceptional care has certainly made a profound impact on the lives of countless patients and families, leaving a lasting legacy of healing, hope, and compassion.

In recognition of their outstanding contributions to our hospital community and the nursing profession as a whole, I wholeheartedly endorse the ICU team at Newton Medical Center for the DAISY Award. They are truly deserving of this honor as their dedication and compassion serve as a beacon of light in their patient's darkest of times.

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I would like to nominate the Intensive Care Unit at Newton Medical Center for the Team DAISY. I am nominating the entire team because of the extraordinary care we have given to the most critical patients in extraordinary situations. For many months, the ICU at Newton has been under construction, and during this time, we have gone from a 10-bed unit to an 8-bed unit, and each one of us has had to become creative with how we care for the sickest of Newton. We have worked with grace through no nurses' station, plastic barriers, temporary walls, moving the entire unit so that the workers could move 02 lines safely, an array of noises during rounds, and many more situations that we have all bent and rose above to care for our patients and each other. We have also done this through months of high census. I could not be prouder and more humbled to work with the staff that I do. We all bring to the table each and every shift our best and I believe it shows.

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For the last several months, and what will continue through the next several months, our ICU Unit has been undergoing major construction renovations. Our Team of Nurses, Nursing Assistants and Unit Representatives have always gone above and beyond for our patients and families, but the Team has been exceptional throughout the challenges of the ongoing construction, assuring the patients and their families that nothing will prevent them from getting the extraordinary care and compassion that they deserve.