© 2025. Houston Methodist, Houston, TX. All rights reserved.
back2.svgforward2.svg
fb_share.svgtw_share.svgin_share.svg
PRACTICE
We are the WORLD – Fostering Cultural Understanding

By Mehjabeen Momin, BSN, CV-BC, RNIV, Houston Methodist West Hospital

Practice6.jpg
Outside Whiteboard.jpg
Moreover, these smart room technologies significantly streamline communication between nursing staff and other healthcare providers. They allow for quicker updates and alerts, ensuring everyone involved in a patient’s care is on the same page. As noted in the McKinsey survey, nurses’ workload often includes tasks that, when optimized, lead to increased efficiency and improved patient outcomes.
By adopting smart room technology, hospitals enhance their operational efficiency and contribute to a higher level of job satisfaction among nursing staff. When nurses can efficiently manage their tasks through technology, they experience reduced stress, increased job fulfillment and a more significant opportunity to connect meaningfully with their patients. This is particularly important in nursing, where strong patient-nurse relationships are integral to providing compassionate, effective care. At Houston Methodist West, pre-and post-implementation questionnaires will be included to evaluate staff perceptions of the Vibe Health smart room platform, explicitly focusing on time management and awareness of patients’ needs. Additionally, self-report questionnaires will be used to evaluate patients’ perceptions of the Vibe Health smart room platform, with questions addressing awareness of the care team, pain management and mobility goals.
At the heart of our PACU team lies a shared commitment to creating a culturally rich, inclusive, and joyful environment where every voice is celebrated and every story matters. As part of our ongoing initiative, We are the WORLD – Fostering Cultural Understanding, we’ve transformed everyday moments into opportunities for learning, laughter, and connection.
Our journey began in February with Cultural Diversity Week, themed “Valentine’s Around the World.” Each day, we explored how different cultures express love through fun, interactive activities that brought our team closer together. From learning how to say “love” in multiple languages while enjoying chocolates to tackling the Heartfelt Language Challenge and the ever-popular Pictionary of Love, each event sparked curiosity and camaraderie. The week concluded with the Wheel of Culture and a heartfelt Valentine’s Day celebration, leaving everyone with new knowledge and stronger team bonds. One nurse summed it up beautifully: “It was a fun, creative way to learn about each other—and made me feel even more connected to our team.”
Practice7.png
March brought even more vibrancy with our celebration of Holi, the Indian festival of colors. The PACU came alive with laughter, team challenges and bursts of color. From collaborative Rangoli art, a cultural guessing game called Guess the Color, to the crowd-favorite Rangeela Tambola (Holi Bingo), every day celebrated unity and playfulness. The grand finale, featuring handprint art and sweet treats, created lasting memories, leaving our colorful handprints behind as a joyful reminder of the week.
And we didn’t stop there. In April, we expanded our cultural celebrations beyond the unit walls with an event themed “More Than a Team: A Celebration of Family, Fun, and PACU Spirit”. It was a day filled with timeless games like Tug of War and Human Knot, joyful laughter from children during the Easter Egg Hunt, and a shared meal served by our leadership. Watching our team connect with one another and our families reinforced the belief that healing, care and compassion begin with meaningful relationships.
These experiences were made possible through the incredible support of our leadership, especially Director Mimi Olsson and the Cultural Diversity Team. Their vision and encouragement helped bring this initiative to life, reminding us that when we celebrate our differences, we grow stronger together.
At PACU, We are the WORLD isn’t just a theme—it’s a way of working, learning, and growing together. We look forward to continuing this journey of cultural celebration, unity, and understanding—one shared moment at a time.
This event wasn’t just a break from routine—it was a celebration of who we are: a vibrant, supportive and joyful PACU family.