Throughout the onslaught of the pandemic, we have seen so many COVID-19 patients in our community who experienced loss of kidney function and a significant number required dialysis. We have seen the demand for bedside hemodialysis treatments triple during the peak of the pandemic. The isolation measures required for patients with COVID-19 meant that dialysis nurses needed to monitor patients undergoing dialysis in four-hour timeslots while inside the patient’s room. Limitations in staffing and the number of available machines meant that these nurses often had to work extended hours or pick-up additional shifts. As a result, the workload and stress for these nurses has gone up, because of the prolonged and repeated direct patient contact which placed them at higher risk for exposure. Despite these difficulties, they did not fail to deliver safe and quality care to the very vulnerable population of patients with kidney disease requiring dialysis. They delivered treatments with dedication and compassion, while also making sure the patient feels supported and safe while in their care. As a team, I have seen them provide each other support and encouragement and genuinely looked after their colleagues' well-being. They collaborated closely with nephrologists, technicians, nurses, and other members of the healthcare team to make sure every patient has the opportunity to receive dialysis treatment in a timely manner. As a department, I think they deserve honor and recognition for the important work they do and for their willingness to rise up to the challenges brought forth by the pandemic.

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The Ascension St. John Dialysis staff displayed amazing courage throughout the last year and the COVID pandemic. Their dedication to ensuring that all patients received the treatment they needed meant working extra shifts, long hours, and being in a room with COVID-positive patients for hours at a time. They understood that this extended exposure could be potentially risky, and they still offered amazing patient care. While in the room with these patients they offered emotional support and did whatever they could do for their patients. Many COVID-positive patients developed kidney failure. The staff not only gave them great care but also offered support and education about dialysis. I consider myself honored to work with such a great group of people that are dedicated to their profession and offering the highest quality and compassionate care to their patients. I can't imagine there's another group more deserving of the DAISY Team Award.

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Please accept this letter as formal nomination of the Ascension St John Acute Dialysis Nursing staff for the DAISY Team Award. So often, DAISY honorees respond to recognition, “But we didn’t do anything special, we were just doing our job”. And humbly, our team would likely respond in a similar fashion if they were so blessed. But the work that this team has accomplished was more than “their job.” Under the most demanding of circumstances that any of us has ever faced in our careers: a global pandemic, potentially lethal viral infection, and an outlandish prevalence of severe acute kidney disease requiring urgent/emergent dialysis to save lives. Through it all, this team held together assuming risk of personal harm for the benefit of the patients they so nobly serve. Many of us did not know the entire risks and harms of COVID-19 in its earliest stages and our community was one of the earliest and hardest hit in that time. Without questioning, their valor cannot be overstated in donning protective gear and caring for patients for extended periods to accomplish the necessary care that dialysis requires. Through it all, doing so with understanding, collaboration, and innovation considering the evolution of our understanding of the disease as they carried out their work. I cannot think of a more worthy collection of superheroes than Ascension’s own acute dialysis staff for this award.