By Clare Morris

For AJC Jobs

Sheree Middleton knows there are three words guaranteed to make most people cower: intensive care unit. She’s lost track of the times people have recoiled at the mention of the ICU, so she’s made it part of her job to change that impression.

Leita Cowart, Special Sheree Middleton

Leita Cowart, Special Sheree Middleton was praised by a patient for her efforts to keep the man’s family involved during his ICU stay.

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“Intensive care is not necessarily a place where you need to be scared,” said Middleton, 42. “We are very intent on what we do, and we watch patients very closely as we try for the best possible outcome. In fact, we maybe give a better level of care.”

The Senoia resident has been an ICU nurse at Piedmont Fayette Hospital since the Fayetteville facililty opened in 1997. In fact, she knew early during her nursing education that intensive care was for her.

“During my studies, I remember having a patient on the surgical floor that I got permission to follow through the course of his stay,” she recalled. “At one point, he wound up in ICU. Back in those days, people who had extensive surgery didn’t have a great chance of surviving.

“I got to witness the care he got. When I had the chance, I went directly into ICU and stayed there. I really knew that’s where I wanted to be and where I was needed.”

Intensive care nursing requires an enormous amount of energy, Middleton said. She works three days a week for 12-hour shifts. “And it’s all you can handle; it’s exhausting,” she said.

Working in the ICU also requires nurses to deal with extended families, who can be just as anxious as the patients.

“It’s pretty awesome to me when a person comes into ICU, maybe on a ventilator, and doesn’t even know they’re in ICU,” she said. “I try to be positive and upbeat, and to relieve their — and the family’s — fears.

“Our role is to keep the family and the patient comfortable so they can make what are often difficult decisions. I want them to have a positive experience.”

Mike Landaiche experienced Middleton’s caring spirit first-hand when he was an ICU patient for two weeks. While doctors dealt with a rare neuromuscular disorder, Landaiche experienced respiratory failure and could not communicate.

“Sheree understood the need for family involvement and went out of her way to ensure [that] at least one of my many family members was allowed to be with me most of the day,” Landaiche wrote. “As I was not able to speak, she valued the family’s input and assistance. Making it a family affair ensured that I was well-cared for at all times, both physically and emotionally.”

Close interaction with patients and families is what motivates Middleton every day.

“Interestingly enough,” she said, “it really is more intensive.”