What does it take to be a
two time Beacon Award
winner? Listen as Deirdre
and Kevin tell their story.
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during frequent daily rounds. It’s also when senior
say, ‘I want to work in the CTICU.’ We really try to
nurses mentor their junior colleagues, and when
work to a higher standard.”
every member of the team is accountable for their
actions. This is leadership that transcends the
role of Nurse Manager from Meghan, while Kevin
role of the nurse manager; it’s leadership that’s
took on Deirdre’s responsibilities as Clinical Nurse
owned by nurses at every level. In this critical care
IV. While transitions in management in a critical
unit, it happens every day.
care environment can sometimes cause ripples in
workflow, this team lost none of its momentum.
“In our unit, people really want to be a
Late October 2009, Deirdre assumed the
pillar of excellence,” says Deirdre Maisano, Nurse
“There might be a new name on the door, but the
Manager of the CTICU. “We want to be the place
door is still open,” say Deirdre. “Our CTICU staff knew
where our colleagues in healthcare can look and
they could count on having access to leadership,
whether we’re at our desks or on the floor.”
That access ensures the exchange of
ideas about advancing health care within the
unit. “It’s about ownership,” says Meghan. “We
look to our staff to address what we can do to
make work practices better. Whether it’s about
increasing patient satisfaction, lowering incidents
of nosocomial skin ulcers, or any number of issues,
these people own advances in healthcare.” R
UNC HOSPITALS Nursing Annual Repor t
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