USF Nursing’s ‘Freeze Team’ focuses on post-cardiac arrest therapeutic hypothermia

Three Doctor of Nursing Practice students are launching innovative work in therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

Shawn Blouin, Sam Williams, and Jovielle Maire, also known as the Freeze Team, applied a longitudinal translational research methodology to their doctoral project and decided to combine forces on a hot topic in healthcare. The Freeze Team is hoping their research will address issues in the underutilization of therapeutic hyperthermia.

“There is an education gap,” saidBlouin. “We want to increase national awareness and help develop a standardized approach.”

From left – Sam Williams, Jovielle Maire, and Shawn Blouin work on writing an article for a journal on their post-cardiac arrest therapeutic hypothermia.

The Freeze Team’s investigation has led them to an invitation to present at the International Conference on Clinical & Experimental Cardiology on Nov. 16, the USF Engineering Expo on Feb. 17, Chilling at the Beach Therapeutic Hypothermia Conference on March 15-18 in Miami, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurse’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Expo on May 20-25 in Houston.

The Freeze Team was at Chilling at the Beach Therapeutic Hypothermia Conference on March 15-18 in Miami.

Dr. Melanie Michael, the senior assistant dean of the master’s and DNP program at USF Nursing, said the Freeze Team’s project is unique because it will help improve long-term survival and neurologic function in patients who suffer brain injuries after a cardiac arrest.

“These students are highly motivated and passionate about improving long-term functional outcomes for post-cardiac arrest patients,” Michael said. “They have already begun the process of disseminating information to the local community regarding their vision and plans for the project. They have the passion, energy, and expertise required to attain the lofty goals they have established for their DNP Project.”

The team meets weekly to strategize and work on their project. They have also been collaborating with Mease Countryside Hospital in identifying standard protocols for therapeutic hyperthermia.

“We all have the same vision,” said Williams. “We all knew that whatever university we attended we wanted to stretch the limits and also help the school grow.”