The Synergy Model at work in a military ICU in Iraq.

The Synergy Model for Patient Care, developed by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), demonstrates that positive patient outcomes are achieved when patient characteristics are matched with nurse competencies. Through the vivid realities in the daily journal of a military ICU nurse taking care of patients in Iraq, a virtual triad learning experience provided academic, clinical, and personal support. This article describes how effective nursing practice, whether providing direct patient care in the United States or in a military ICU in Iraq, must be centered around the needs and characteristics of patients. Acute and critically ill patients in a military ICU in Iraq have unique needs and require nurses with competent skills to help promote optimal outcomes.