June 2025 Honoree
Amanda "Mandy" Lopez, BSN, RNC-NIC
From my very first day in the unit, Mandy made me feel incredibly welcomed and supported. Her warm, professional presence created an environment where I felt safe, valued, and part of a true team, and that sense of emotional security has had a direct impact on my ability to provide compassionate, focused care at the bedside.
What makes Mandy special is that she's always there, not just when things are going well, but especially when they're not. When I had a problem, she never left me to deal with it alone. She made me feel like she had my back, and because of that, I gained the confidence to grow and keep moving forward. That kind of support removes the fear of failure, allowing nurses like me to care for our patients with full attention, heart, and presence.
Mandy doesn't just lead during business hours—she goes above and beyond. She comes in early to check on us night-shift nurses, making sure we feel just as seen and valued as the day shift. I truly appreciate that she stays past business hours just to meet with us at the beginning of our shifts. She checks in, asks if we need anything, and makes herself available in a personal, genuine way. That extra time she gives shows us that all shifts matter, and it makes us want to show up with the same dedication to our patients.
She doesn't lead from a distance. Mandy treats us like her children, her sisters, her second family. Her approach is deeply personal and full of heart. She's the kind of supervisor you can approach face-to-face, not just through emails. Her presence is comforting and real, and that means everything in the NICU. That kind of leadership nurtures trust, and that trust spills into the way we care for our babies with the same compassion and attention Mandy shows to us.
One time, I came in for my night shift and saw her jumping in to help with a difficult IV insertion, successfully drawing blood from a baby. She didn't hesitate. Even though it wasn't her role that night, she stepped in to support the team because that's just who she is. She leads by example, and it's moments like that which inspire me. I want to be like her someday—a strong, hands-on leader who uplifts her team through action and heart.
If you tell Mandy you want to grow, she'll help you grow. She listens, supports, encourages, and walks beside you every step of the way. And because she has my back, I'll always have hers too.
Mandy leads with compassion, dedication, and integrity. She empowers us to be better nurses, and in doing so, she enhances the level of care we deliver to our patients and families each day. She is a true DAISY Nurse Leader.
I am honored to nominate Amanda "Mandy" Lopez for the DAISY Award for the extraordinary impact she has made on our NICU team and my ability to provide compassionate bedside care.
Mandy's leadership during the transition from a Level II to a Level III NICU has been nothing short of inspiring. Her dedication to our growth through education, one-on-one check-ins, and her constant presence on the unit has created a supportive environment where we can thrive. Her vision and motivation have not only elevated our team's skills but have also reinforced our commitment to providing exceptional care to our tiniest patients and their families.
Mandy exemplifies what it means to be a compassionate, visionary leader, and I am grateful for her unwavering support and guidance to our unit.
Mandy is an excellent bedside nurse as well as an excellent nursing supervisor. She anticipates the needs of our Level II/III unit and is always available for difficult admissions, education, and even filling in for a shift if staffing is low. She goes above and beyond her supervisor role and is a huge support for ALS/charge nurses, RTs, and even our cleaning team.
In all the NICUs I have worked in over my 13 years of experience, I have never seen a nursing supervisor as committed to her NICU team and the elevation of nursing, patient care, and compassion in our unit as I have experienced with her.
Mandy is always approachable, friendly, and looks for ways to uplift her NICU team. She helps us be our best!
What makes Mandy special is that she's always there, not just when things are going well, but especially when they're not. When I had a problem, she never left me to deal with it alone. She made me feel like she had my back, and because of that, I gained the confidence to grow and keep moving forward. That kind of support removes the fear of failure, allowing nurses like me to care for our patients with full attention, heart, and presence.
Mandy doesn't just lead during business hours—she goes above and beyond. She comes in early to check on us night-shift nurses, making sure we feel just as seen and valued as the day shift. I truly appreciate that she stays past business hours just to meet with us at the beginning of our shifts. She checks in, asks if we need anything, and makes herself available in a personal, genuine way. That extra time she gives shows us that all shifts matter, and it makes us want to show up with the same dedication to our patients.
She doesn't lead from a distance. Mandy treats us like her children, her sisters, her second family. Her approach is deeply personal and full of heart. She's the kind of supervisor you can approach face-to-face, not just through emails. Her presence is comforting and real, and that means everything in the NICU. That kind of leadership nurtures trust, and that trust spills into the way we care for our babies with the same compassion and attention Mandy shows to us.
One time, I came in for my night shift and saw her jumping in to help with a difficult IV insertion, successfully drawing blood from a baby. She didn't hesitate. Even though it wasn't her role that night, she stepped in to support the team because that's just who she is. She leads by example, and it's moments like that which inspire me. I want to be like her someday—a strong, hands-on leader who uplifts her team through action and heart.
If you tell Mandy you want to grow, she'll help you grow. She listens, supports, encourages, and walks beside you every step of the way. And because she has my back, I'll always have hers too.
Mandy leads with compassion, dedication, and integrity. She empowers us to be better nurses, and in doing so, she enhances the level of care we deliver to our patients and families each day. She is a true DAISY Nurse Leader.
I am honored to nominate Amanda "Mandy" Lopez for the DAISY Award for the extraordinary impact she has made on our NICU team and my ability to provide compassionate bedside care.
Mandy's leadership during the transition from a Level II to a Level III NICU has been nothing short of inspiring. Her dedication to our growth through education, one-on-one check-ins, and her constant presence on the unit has created a supportive environment where we can thrive. Her vision and motivation have not only elevated our team's skills but have also reinforced our commitment to providing exceptional care to our tiniest patients and their families.
Mandy exemplifies what it means to be a compassionate, visionary leader, and I am grateful for her unwavering support and guidance to our unit.
Mandy is an excellent bedside nurse as well as an excellent nursing supervisor. She anticipates the needs of our Level II/III unit and is always available for difficult admissions, education, and even filling in for a shift if staffing is low. She goes above and beyond her supervisor role and is a huge support for ALS/charge nurses, RTs, and even our cleaning team.
In all the NICUs I have worked in over my 13 years of experience, I have never seen a nursing supervisor as committed to her NICU team and the elevation of nursing, patient care, and compassion in our unit as I have experienced with her.
Mandy is always approachable, friendly, and looks for ways to uplift her NICU team. She helps us be our best!
Thank you, Amanda "Mandy", for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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