1 North UPIC isn’t just a team to me—it's a second family, and our unit feels like a second home. As a family, we support each other through the highs and lows, celebrating milestones like birthdays, baby showers, engagements, promotions, and more. When someone faces challenges, such as a death in the family or an illness, we show up for them—not just financially, but emotionally, by visiting, writing supportive messages, and offering words of encouragement. Our goal is to boost morale, provide hope, and make each team member feel that we are there for them, no matter what.

This sense of support extends not only to our unit but also to our patients. Many of our patients stay with us for extended periods while awaiting placement, and I believe they also begin to see our unit as their second home. We treat them like family, and they truly become a part of our community. For example, we had a behavioral elopement patient whose birthday we celebrated. One of our 1:1 Sitters went out on her break to get a cake, and we surprised the patient with a birthday party. Singing happy birthday to him brought so much joy, and that happiness radiated throughout the entire unit.

Our team's efforts are reflected in the success of several initiatives that have made a meaningful impact on our unit. As the chairman of the Unit Project & Innovations Council (UPIC), I am proud of the work we've done, though it can be challenging to address the unit's concerns and implement new ideas. With full support and cooperation from the team, we've successfully launched three key projects, with more in the pipeline:

1.    Cue Driven Repositioning (CDR) – This project aims to reduce Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPIs) and improve repositioning documentation. I’m proud to say this initiative has been a success and will be implemented hospital-wide by the end of the year.

2.    Bowel & Bladder Rounds – As the pilot unit for this initiative led by Victoria Alvarenga, we saw significant success. The number of continent patients at discharge increased, thanks to weekly bowel and bladder rounds conducted in collaboration with our Rehab associates and the Interdisciplinary team.

3.    Kardex Notes – Addressing concerns from nurses, doctors, and therapists regarding incomplete IDT notes and punctuality in attending IDT meetings, we successfully implemented a system where nurses complete IDT notes and update the Kardex notes the day before the meeting, ensuring timely and efficient participation from all shifts.

4.    Discharge Education (Ready Set Go) – This ongoing project focuses on educating patients and families prior to discharge to ensure they are well-prepared with the skills and knowledge needed. This approach prevents last-minute training by the discharging nurse, allowing for a more focused and smooth transition.

5.    Non-Verbal Cognition Project (NCP) – To reduce unwitnessed and unassisted falls, we’ve introduced an additional fall assessment tool to assess patient cognition. If a patient fails the test, we implement more frequent rounds and use additional tools to assess their needs.

6.    Above & Beyond Award – Our version of the "Employee of the Month" award, where staff can vote for a colleague who has gone above and beyond. The nominated employee's photo and reasons for the nomination are posted on our "Above & Beyond" bulletin board, motivating the team and celebrating the exceptional contributions of our staff.

We are continually motivated to improve our unit’s workflow and address any concerns that arise. With the leadership of April Macabuhay (Unit Manager), Abner Solomon (Nurse Supervisor), and the support of our entire team, we will continue to grow and improve for the better.