In the high-stakes intensive care unit (ICU), the voices of nurses can provide crucial insight that affects the quality and efficiency of bedside care. At St. Francis, a nurse-led ICU Nursing Professional Practice Council provides a dedicated space for those voices to be heard. Through collaboration, evidence-based practice and honest feedback, the council helps shape how care is delivered in the ICU. It ensures that both patients and nurses are supported during the most critical moments.
Melissa Tidball, CCRN, is a co-chair of the council, along with Zach Wipperman, RN. Tidball describes the council as the “voice” of bedside nurses in the hospital, as well as a space for nurses to give their input to leadership. She says it helps shape the way care is delivered at the hospital.
“Our [council] is really about […] making sure what we do at the bedside is supported, evidence-based and aligned with our nursing practice model,” she said. “We look at ways to improve patient care, support each other as nurses and make meaningful changes that reflect what our patients and staff truly need.”
The six-member council includes the co-chairs and bedside ICU nurses. All ICU nurses are welcome to attend the meetings to hear information and participate in round-table discussions.
“That’s important because it keeps everything we do grounded in real experiences and day-to-day patient care,” said Tidball. “By focusing on best practices, safety and consistency, we’re helping make sure [patients] receive the best possible outcomes during some of their most critical moments.”
Wipperman, an ICU nurse, sees the council’s effect daily. He observes nurses living out the hospitals’ nursing practice model and putting it into action when treating every patient.
“Our goal is to blossom from the inside out, beginning with our nurses and spreading those branches to our patients,” he said. “They work tirelessly on the front lines to make sure each and every patient is cared for as if they were their own family. All our patients benefit from a team who is healthy and equipped.”
The council has been well-received by frontline staff members for its advocacy and effectiveness on the ICU floor.
“[The staff] have already seen the fruits of our labor,” Wipperman said. “We have the ability to observe and gather data on what is working, what needs improved and how to get to the finished puzzle from those who are there at bedside. We have appreciated the platform for [staff’s] honest feedback.”
Tidball says being part of it makes her feel more connected to the nursing staff as a whole.
“It’s a reminder that even small ideas can lead to meaningful change,” she said. “And that when nurses come together, we can make a real difference for our patients and for each other.”