Muriel Moyo, Nursing Director
Location: UCI Health — Irvine
"What's your zero? Everyone has a north star — a vision of where they want to be. There are things we can do to make sure everyone is owning their excellence within their teams. We have to challenge everyone to ask that question."
In the medical intensive care unit (MICU), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) have long been considered an unfortunate but expected risk. A few infections per year are considered typical. Under the leadership of Muriel Moyo, who was MICU nurse manager at the time, asked the team to come together around a bold vision:
“What if our normal was zero?”
Patients in the MICU are medically fragile, often facing long hospital stays. A single infection can lead to delirium, extended hospitalization — or worse. Moyo, who is now the nursing director at UCI Health ― Irvine, saw an opportunity to shift the culture and set a higher standard for care.
She posed the question to her co-workers and together, they answered. In January, the MICU marked two full years without a single CAUTI. “By eliminating CAUTI, patients are able to leave the hospital sooner and return to their previous state,” she says.
The vision set by leadership created the space for the MICU team to take personal accountability while working in collaborative support of a shared goal. “Whether it’s a registered nurse or one of our nursing assistants, the team committed to this goal, supported one another and held each other accountable through every shift and every patient interaction.”
Now, infection prevention has gone beyond protocol — it’s become a part of the MICU’s identity.
Alignment on such an important goal has also created a stronger team: Nurses feel empowered to ask questions, and co-workers feel supported in escalating any problems they notice.
“This wasn’t just a quality initiative. It became a part of the MICU’s identity, woven into daily practice by the co-workers providing care at the bedside. And the patients see it. They feel it.”
So, Moyo asks again: “What’s your zero?” It’s a call to define what excellence looks like — and then relentlessly pursue it.
“That’s exactly what own our excellence is about. Each of us taking ownership of our contribution and ultimately benefiting our patients. It’s about knowing we can do better.”
Confidently step up. Be bold and speak up when you notice opportunities to set a new standard.
Generously support each other. Trust colleagues to lead while standing by, ready to assist when needed.
Celebrate shared achievements. Honor the wins, which are both an individual commitment and a collective victory.
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