Intensive Care Unit Team
March 2019
Intensive Care Unit Team
at Morton Plant North Bay
Intensive Care Unit
Morton Plant North Bay
Clearwater
,
FL
United States
Dianne Miller RN,
Carly Johnson ARNP/PA,
Stephanie Doolittle Secretary,
Danielle Abukhalaf RN,
Denise Alabi RN,
Jessica Appelt RN,
Nicole Bikowitz RN,
Kerri Blaney RN,
Mary Renee Bontya RN,
Michelle Borchik RN,
Melanie Coker RN,
Amanda Couch RN,
Dehan Cramer RN,
Julie Cupach RN,
Aaron Dennis RN,
Devin Dominguez RN,
Kathleen Donahue RN,
Ivy Exposito-Mandes RN,
Brita Fershleiser RN,
B. Alex Goldberg PST,
Jennifer Gorman RN,
Andrea Hinkle PST,
Tiana Hudak RN,
Leanna Infante RN,
Karen Irwin RN,
Jana Johns RN,
Laura Jones PCT,
Danielle Kourtides RN,
Siri Larratt RN,
Sabrina Leconte RN,
Hazel Llanto RN,
Tami Macleod RN,
Carmen Marin Rodriguez RN,
Tiffany Martin RN,
Jason McCue RN,
Scheniqueka Mendoza RN,
Vesta Metzker RN,
Sanja Mewborn RN,
Stephanie Moore RN,
Winsome Osbourne RN,
Kathleen Parrino RN,
Crystal Paterson RN,
Samantha Schell RN,
Carrie Schroeder-Crook RN,
Staci Sparks RN,
Ed Sutton PST,
Kristen Tomer PST,
Brigid Walsh-Flanagan RN,
Melissa White RN,
Angela Wright PCT,
Shelby Wyllie RN,
Shannon Yacobellis RN,
Kyle Workman RN
Carly Johnson ARNP/PA,
Stephanie Doolittle Secretary,
Danielle Abukhalaf RN,
Denise Alabi RN,
Jessica Appelt RN,
Nicole Bikowitz RN,
Kerri Blaney RN,
Mary Renee Bontya RN,
Michelle Borchik RN,
Melanie Coker RN,
Amanda Couch RN,
Dehan Cramer RN,
Julie Cupach RN,
Aaron Dennis RN,
Devin Dominguez RN,
Kathleen Donahue RN,
Ivy Exposito-Mandes RN,
Brita Fershleiser RN,
B. Alex Goldberg PST,
Jennifer Gorman RN,
Andrea Hinkle PST,
Tiana Hudak RN,
Leanna Infante RN,
Karen Irwin RN,
Jana Johns RN,
Laura Jones PCT,
Danielle Kourtides RN,
Siri Larratt RN,
Sabrina Leconte RN,
Hazel Llanto RN,
Tami Macleod RN,
Carmen Marin Rodriguez RN,
Tiffany Martin RN,
Jason McCue RN,
Scheniqueka Mendoza RN,
Vesta Metzker RN,
Sanja Mewborn RN,
Stephanie Moore RN,
Winsome Osbourne RN,
Kathleen Parrino RN,
Crystal Paterson RN,
Samantha Schell RN,
Carrie Schroeder-Crook RN,
Staci Sparks RN,
Ed Sutton PST,
Kristen Tomer PST,
Brigid Walsh-Flanagan RN,
Melissa White RN,
Angela Wright PCT,
Shelby Wyllie RN,
Shannon Yacobellis RN,
Kyle Workman RN
EK was a 38-year-old female who presented to the hospital originally with shortness of breath resulting in a diagnosis of pneumonia. Due to dyspnea, a CT angio of her chest was ordered to rule out PE. Unfortunately, the results of this test would change the lives of EK and her entire family as this is when EK's breast cancer was initially found. Initially, 1 year prior to her visit, EK thought she had mastitis which is how her lump initially appeared. Unfortunately, EK didn't have a mammogram and went undiagnosed. EK underwent a biopsy and was diagnosed with breast cancer with mets to left axilla and bones and possibly lungs. EK attempted chemotherapy; however, she was unable to tolerate her first round and was hospitalized immediately afterward again with severe dyspnea. EK was admitted to Morton Plant North Bay Hospital's ICU at the end of March 2018 and that is where the ICU staff got the pleasure of taking care of not only her but her family as well.
Along our journey with EK and her family, the ICU team member's hearts were touched. EK was only 38 years old and at that time, was diagnosed 17 days early with this horrific illness. Not only did EK not have enough time to prepare, nor understand what was happening to her, neither did her family. There was no time for any of them to be able to prepare (if one even can), nor really grasp what was to occur in the coming days.
On Day 2 of her ICU stay, the ICU team knew EK was not going to make it back home. The discussion of code status and how that would affect all of those involved began. The ICU team members continually reached out to the family asking how they were and what they could do to help. The family said, "We're fine," but the team knew that wasn't true. Finally, mom relented and said, "I know my daughter is dying, but her birthday is next week and I just wish she could make it to her birthday. She always loved celebrating her birthday". Without hesitation, the team looked at her and said, "well, if she can't make it to her birthday then we will bring her birthday to her!"
The ICU team planned everything and the date was set for the next day to celebrate her birthday and her life! The team rallied together and got all the details worked out! They found out that the patient loved the cartoon Strawberry Shortcake so they themed the party around that. A cake, balloons, flowers, and a handmade journal (full of birthday wishes and memories was written in it by the ICU staff). The plan went into action and the team decorated the room and set up for the party. The team had the family invite other family members to come to celebrate with her as well. Around 10 am the ICU team along with the patient's family help celebrated the patient's birthday.
As a team earlier in the week they started passing around a pink ribbon to wear in their hair. The ribbon was a sign of caring, compassion, strength, and love that this unit has a team. They knew the next person they should pass this ribbon on to is the patient's mother. The patient's mother was so grateful for it and everything else this team has done for her and her family. The patient passed away at 10 pm on the day of her party.
Along our journey with EK and her family, the ICU team member's hearts were touched. EK was only 38 years old and at that time, was diagnosed 17 days early with this horrific illness. Not only did EK not have enough time to prepare, nor understand what was happening to her, neither did her family. There was no time for any of them to be able to prepare (if one even can), nor really grasp what was to occur in the coming days.
On Day 2 of her ICU stay, the ICU team knew EK was not going to make it back home. The discussion of code status and how that would affect all of those involved began. The ICU team members continually reached out to the family asking how they were and what they could do to help. The family said, "We're fine," but the team knew that wasn't true. Finally, mom relented and said, "I know my daughter is dying, but her birthday is next week and I just wish she could make it to her birthday. She always loved celebrating her birthday". Without hesitation, the team looked at her and said, "well, if she can't make it to her birthday then we will bring her birthday to her!"
The ICU team planned everything and the date was set for the next day to celebrate her birthday and her life! The team rallied together and got all the details worked out! They found out that the patient loved the cartoon Strawberry Shortcake so they themed the party around that. A cake, balloons, flowers, and a handmade journal (full of birthday wishes and memories was written in it by the ICU staff). The plan went into action and the team decorated the room and set up for the party. The team had the family invite other family members to come to celebrate with her as well. Around 10 am the ICU team along with the patient's family help celebrated the patient's birthday.
As a team earlier in the week they started passing around a pink ribbon to wear in their hair. The ribbon was a sign of caring, compassion, strength, and love that this unit has a team. They knew the next person they should pass this ribbon on to is the patient's mother. The patient's mother was so grateful for it and everything else this team has done for her and her family. The patient passed away at 10 pm on the day of her party.