WAUWATOSA, Wis. — After spending two years as a nurse, Amanda Rosenwald said she knows she chose the right profession. 

What You Need To Know

  • ICU nurses at Froedtert Hospital have started a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council

  • The council meets twice a month to discuss topics, including caring for LGBTQ patients, end-of-life care and religious considerations

  • They've developed things like pronoun badges and inclusive health care kits

“I never got burnt out during COVID, which I know is not something a lot of people can relate to and I’m very surprised I didn’t,” said Rosenwald.

Since the beginning of her career, Rosenwald has worked in the medical Intensive Care Unit at Froedtert Hospital. 

“I think it’s the environment we have,” said Rosenwald. “The culture we created, the teamwork we have. I wouldn’t want to change it. It’s kept me loving the job even more and pursuing a lot more through it.”

Rosenwald is even a part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, which is made up of ICU nurses. 

“There was a lot of questions on diversity,” said Rosenwald. “How we care for patients, what kind of problems were arising, just general health disparities.” 

The council meets twice a month to discuss topics, including caring for LGBTQ patients, end-of-life care and religious considerations.

“We’ve developed the she/her pronoun badges, also he/him, they/them,” said Rosenwald. “We just want to educate people and give people more perspective on you will see these in everyday life, you will see these in health care.” 

Another initiative the council started is inclusive health care kits. 

“We have different shampoos, conditioners, oils, hair care, bonnets, durags, combs,” Rosenwald. “We also created educational pieces that talk about nursing specifics, especially with our intubated, sedated patients in the ICU that can’t take care of themselves.” 

Katherine Rembalski is another medical ICU nurse who is part of the DEI Council. 

“Our motivation to come and form this committee to do better to learn better to grow and foster an environment where patients of all types, all races, ethnicities, gender, sexual orientations can feel really safe in our care and we can better educate ourselves and each other,” said Rembalski.

Both Rembalski and Rosenwald said they hope to continue the DEI Council at Froedtert Hospital to provide the right care for their patients. 

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