From the Chief Nursing Officer Cindy Sayre | Keri Nasenbeny
Colleagues,
We are pleased to present the Annual Nursing Report for 2020. It was a year of unprecedented challenges for UWMC and the world. In each phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, our nurses rose to the occasion and went to great lengths to provide excellent care to every patient, every time. In the face of vast uncertainty, our teams adapted and innovated. With an emerging pathogen, significantly disrupted supply chain and no way to gauge how many patients would need care for COVID-19, we adopted strategies to preserve capacity and supplies. Some of these strategies included the cancellation of elective surgeries and the development of the PPE Nurse role. Safety of our staff was and continues to be the highest priority and measures such as expanded PPE training, universal masking, restricting routine visitation and screening at the entrances helped to achieve our safety goals. Communication was consistent through daily - and then weekly - updates and Town Halls.
What we know for sure is that UWMC Montlake and Northwest were at the forefront of the community’s COVID-19 response, and our nursing staff provided exemplary care in the face of this global disaster. Together, we were strong, worked as a team and got the job done.
As we navigated the waters of COVID, we also shared the nation’s grief as the effects of systemic racism rose to the forefront. Our nursing staff engaged in protests and sought out ways to learn more about equity, diversity and inclusion, including attending affinity groups, book clubs and formal educational sessions. The work to improve equity for all has just begun.
Through your hard work, dedication and creativity, every patient received high quality care in a patient-centered manner. As we have been throughout the pandemic, our leadership teams are focused on you. We are pleased to offer resources to promote well-being, self-compassion and resilience. The UW Medicine Peer to Peer and Care4U programs have proved invaluable during this time of crisis.
We hope you enjoy reading about the excellent work that took place in 2020. Thank you for your service during this unprecedented time. We incredibly honored to serve you and so grateful for each one of you.
We are proud to be a six-time Magnet
- Cindy and Keri