Christina Cruso

Christina Cruso, RN III, BSN, CPON, has become the 75th DAISY Awardee at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Her DAISY Award was announced at a surprise ceremony on Dec. 13.  During the ceremony the conference room was filled with many of Cruso’s co-workers, friends and supporters, including her husband, George Cruso (a nurse in the Emergency Department).

Cruso shares the honor of winning a DAISY Award with 74 of her fellow CHLA nurses, and now joins a group that has been characterized by Mary Dee Hacker, RN, MBA, chief nursing officer and VP, Patient Care Services, as the “Who’s Who of CHLA nursing.”

Cruso (formerly Chris Smith; she and George married this October) served as co-captain of the CHLA Nautica Malibu Triathlon team this year, along with Rod Hanners, senior VP and COO.  Hanners commented on Cruso’s honor by saying: “Chris is just excellent. I cannot imagine anybody better suited for the award.”

In fact, several of Cruso’s co-workers submitted quotes to be included in her nomination package:

“Chris is a confident and knowledgeable nurse who is a valuable resource to her colleagues. She takes the initiative to make our unit better by benefiting the staff, patients and families.”

“Chris is the nurse that I want there when there is a sick patient. She is calm, efficient and a great team player. Her approach to patients and families is wonderful. She puts 200 percent of her energy into her work. She leads the CHLA Triathlon Team with patience and grace and we all love her for it. No one is more deserving.”

“I think she is very deserving of this award. She is a great leader and innovator. When she is in charge in the Day Hospital, you have the sense that things will go well during the day. She knows what is going on with all nurses on the unit and helps out personally. She has given 110 percent to the Nautica and needs much recognition for this.”

“One of the qualities that I most admire and respect is Christina’s professionalism. I always know when I call or go to the Day Hospital/Clinic that she will treat me respectfully and listen to me. I have observed her many times with patients, and she is professional and respectful of them also.”