Two Good Shifts

Beka - Well, Nurses Week is over. I got my third bag with the hospital’s logo as a gift. I’ve attended too many ice cream socials as well. But I’m happy to report that the last few days working in the CTICU have been pleasurable. The first night 9 cases were admitted. I ended up having 3 patients in total. But, we decided to recreate (or re-implement) team nursing that night with everyone working together. It worked!

As patients rolled in and out, we forgot about how short-staffed we were. Patients recovered nicely. No one bled and there were no chests that needed to be reopened by the bedside. We all worked together in tandem and in rhythm, focusing on the tasks that needed to be done. The following night we admitted 6 new cases with 2 bounce-backs from the floor, where primary nursing was the norm. Both bounce-backs had ended up being reintubated due to lack of chest physiotherapy. That shift we turned patients as we went from room to room, giving everyone chest PT. No one argued as everyone got a dinner break that night. There was even time to munch on a few chips that someone had brought in.

I left the unit feeling great – that I had done a good job with the rest of the staff. Sometimes old approaches such as team nursing work better. Perhaps we need to go back into time and re-evaluate how we did things in the past. The past may reveal solutions for the present! When a shift goes well as these two did, I can say I do love nursing. Off to Aruba for a week!

Is anyone else using team nursing with good results?