Caitlin has created an environment built on mutual respect, continued professional development and ethical behavior. Caitlin is a role model to others and does not accept anything less than what is perceived as extraordinary.
Caitlin has been able to motivate staff to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for their patients by implementing new protocols and best practices into their care model. As chair of the CA-UTI committee, Caitlin has been able to reduce hospital-acquired infections, device utilization days, and implemented new products to improve the quality of care we deliver.
Caitlin has educated and challenged the staff nurses and providers on many practice changes and guidelines to improve patient safety and quality including; Neuro-Intensivist Activation Alert Tree, bladder scanning protocol, NICU culturing protocol, CSF sampling bundle, and electrolyte repletion protocol. This is just a small sample of the things Caitlin has championed and supported to achieve better outcomes for our patients.
Caitlin has been a mentor to staff supporting new creative ideas from the unit council including a new preceptor packet and new orientation process that includes stage testing and hands-on education days. Caitlin has successfully brought thirty-five new staff nurses through the orientation process in the past two years. Caitlin has also offered a SCRN review course for all staff nurses interested in becoming a stroke certified nurse. Caitlin will be presenting at IHI this year focusing on a root-cause analysis tool for CA-UTIs. She also supported another clinical nurse with her research in ventriculitis reduction who was also selected to present this year at the AANN conference.
Caitlin also promotes and enhances the image of nursing within the organization, the community and the profession by leading the Brain Tumor Support group at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience. Caitlin has devoted her time to supporting patients and families through these difficult times. She also organizes the "Jefferson Team" for the Annual Brain Tumor Walk and works closely with the Gift of Life organization to raise awareness about organ donation.
Caitlin is always accessible, available and responsive to the needs of others, encourages critical thinking and problem solving on a continuous basis by being present daily at our unit huddles and multidisciplinary rounds. Caitlin is a true leader and I have been impressed with her knowledge and clinical judgment, but I have found her "emotional intelligence" even more remarkable. Caitlin serves as a leader and a role model in the NICU; she is the sort of person who makes the entire team perform better.