Critical care nurse
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Use of a collaborative team approach to design a care pathway and standing orders for carotid endarterectomy patients achieved the project's goals. Variation, LOS, and resource consumption were decreased while quality of care and patients' satisfaction levels were maintained. Education of patients, patients' families, and staff members increased. ⋯ The step-by-step implementation kept the project moving forward. Creating a care pathway and changing practice require collaboration between nurses, doctors, and administrators. Creativity and systematic, thorough steps are what move a practice change from idea to inception.