Category: Survivors of an Awake and Walking ICU

Episode 141: Fighting For Your Life With Your Eyes Open

Walking Home From The ICU Episode 141: Fighting For Your Life With Your Eyes Open

Sedation is often given with the hopes of sparing patients the discomfort and awareness of the struggles of the ICU. Yet, does that ultimately prevent harm and suffering? Antonette Montalvo, APRN shares with us what it meant to her to be able to fight for her life with her eyes open. Episode Transcription Kali Dayton

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Walking Home From The ICU Episode 122 Caleigh’s Voice Through Critical Illness

Walking Home From The ICU Episode 122: Caleigh’s Voice Through Critical Illness

Caleigh has had it both ways in the ICU. She has been sedated and immobilized which led to battling delirium and ICU acquired weakness. She has also been awake and mobile while intubated and walked out the doors. Listen to Caleigh share her insights and what meant to her to be communicative, connected, and autonomous

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Walking From ICU Episode 103- Communication Is a Basic Human Right- Especially in the ICU

Walking Home From The ICU Episode 103: Communication Is a Basic Human Right- Especially in the ICU

This episode explores the value of communication in the ICU and the impact of our sedation and immobility practices on the basic human right of communication. Episode Transcription Kali Dayton 0:38 This episode is dedicated to communication and the ICU. This has taken me a long time to publish in part because it is so

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Walking From ICU Episode 71 What “Fight To Survive” Truly Means

Walking Home From The ICU Episode 71: What “Fight To Survive” Truly Means

When an ICU team started discussing end-of-life with 31-year-old Megan Wakley’s family, they fought to have her transferred to the “Awake and Walking ICU”. When research shows that the less sedation used and the more mobility performed the less likely patients are to die, what did that mean for Megan Wakely?   Episode Transcription Kali

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Walking From ICU Episode 44 Walking Home From the ICU after COVID19

Walking Home From The ICU Episode 44: Walking Home From the ICU after COVID19

When 69-year-old Dr. Ken Hurwitz was intubated for COVID19, how was his life saved and even preserved? After 3 weeks on the ventilator, why was he able to walk away and go straight home? Episode Transcription Kali Dayton 0:28 In the past few episodes, we learned about the conditions, treatments and outcomes experienced during the

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Dayton Walking From ICU Episode 34 Recommendations From a 4-Time Ventilator Survivor

Walking Home from The ICU Episode 34: Recommendations From a 4 -Time Ventilator Survivor

Kali talks with Ann Bannon, who was intubated four times and awake on the endotracheal tube and ventilator for months. She gives us valuable insight into how to help the new flood of ventilated patients. Episode Transcription Kali Dayton Ann, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate you coming on our show and helping

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I am a nurse leader responsible for improving practices across the intensive care units of a large health system. As an experienced ICU nurse, I know the culture that most often exists in ICUs is one that promotes and accepts over-sedation that often causes unintended harm. While reviewing the literature to better align our liberation practices with the best evidence, one of our bedside nurses discovered Walking Home From The ICU. The combination of poignant stories from ICU survivors with the expertise of some of ICU Liberation’s leading experts became the impetus for a system-wide evidence-based practice improvement project aimed at changing analgesia and sedation management in our ICUs.

After initially being inspired by Kali’s podcast and the incredible stories it provides, we saw an opportunity for more. We brought Kali in to present a webinar to almost 100 of our critical care team members, including nurses, APPs, physicians, and respiratory therapists. Kali’s presentation struck a needed balance between evidence-based practice information and inspiring stories, highlighting real patients who benefited from a practice that is often very different from what occurs in most ICUs today. The webinar was very well-received by all who attended, and the lessons learned have continued to be referenced by our team members as we strive to create an Awake and Walking ICU culture.

Kali offers a refreshing perspective on critical care, and she supports it with a wealth of knowledge garnered from years as a bedside nurse and advanced practice provider. Kali knows how to speak to clinicians because she is one, and she’s still very connected to the daily lived experiences of those on the frontline of critical care. I believe anyone working in critical care will find inspiration in Walking Home From The ICU to change the harmful culture of sedation in their practice. I would even go so far as to recommend the podcast as required listening for all ICU team members, whether experienced clinicians or new residents and nurses. When additional support is needed, I encourage clinical leaders to utilize Kali’s expertise and experiences to further inspire and motivate their teams. Time spent working with Kali is an investment that will pay dividends in the positive impact it has on the lives of the patients we serve.

Patrick Bradley, MSN, RN, CCRN
Virginia, USA

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