Continued Quality Care

At UCSF, the 14Moffitt unit is well known for its quality care as well as it's quality staff. In the recent two years, effort have been made to retain career staff and eliminate the need for travel nurses. This has indeed, brought the staff of 14Moffitt closer and more of a cohesive unit.

Regardless of the time of day, 14Moffitt continues to fill to census capacity with extremely acute, adult patients that require frequent, if not constant medical attention. In order to provide quality care, it is vital to have a competent staff who can manage the labile condition of such patients.

The night shift does not have some of the resources available to the day shift. Transport nurses and the lift team are just a few. As a result, we are forced to compromise our time plans of care, whether it be leaving the floor for a test with a patient or relieving a sitter for their break.

It has come to our attention that one of our night shift PCAs has been offered a full-time PCA position on a floor other than 14Moffitt. Tammy Benitez works five days a week as per diem PCA on 14 Moffitt and has proven to be a vital team member on the night shift. To lose her to another unit would prove detrimental to the night shift as well as 14 Moffitt as a whole.

Tammy is dedicated to quality patient care each shift. She coordinates PCA breaks with fellow PCAs, especially when we have several sitter cases. She schedules tentative turning schedules for patients who are bedbound with poor mobility. Tammy always maintains professional decorum, whether its talking to the nursing staff, fellow PCAs, or patients. She listens to patients and has been a source of comfort to many of our more anxious patients. Tammy initiates & maintains fall, skin, and aspiration precautions frequently when a nurse might have overlooked them during a busy shift. There have been numerous accounts where Tammy has found high risk patients out of bed or nearly out of bed, ready to fall. She is able to prioritize tasks according to acuity of the patient and availability of the staff.

To lose Tammy Benitez to another floor would be detrimental to the night shift and a great disservice to 14 Moffitt. Her initiative and drive for quality patient care is worth more than any star on a badge and should not be taken for granted.