Date of Graduation

Spring 5-15-2025

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Program

MSN project

First Advisor

Michael Ng, MS, AGACNP-BC

Abstract

Objective: Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at heightened risk of dehumanization due to sedation, mechanical ventilation, and prolonged hospitalization. This quality improvement (QI) initiative aimed to enhance patient-centered communication in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at a Northern California academic quaternary care hospital through the implementation of personalized communication whiteboards. Aim: To develop a personalized communication board that, once implemented, would achieve at least 75% utilization in patient rooms by May 2025. Methods: Guided by a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, surveys were conducted with SICU patients, families, and staff to gather stakeholder input and inform the design of a new personalized whiteboard model. Due to budget constraints, the initial pilot was limited to three patient rooms. Results: A two-week pilot in three patient rooms yielded a 60% whiteboard utilization rate across four observed shifts, reflecting strong early engagement and demonstrating the intervention’s potential for broader unit adoption. Conclusions: While barriers such as unclear maintenance roles, workflow integration, and sustainability planning remain, the use of personalized whiteboards proved to be a practical, low-cost strategy to humanize care in the ICU. Future efforts will aim to scale implementation across the unit, embed whiteboard use into daily routines, and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure long-term success.

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