I would like to nominate one of our ED RNs, Gianni. I have worked with Gianni closely for over a year and she is truly one of the best nurses we have. On one particularly chaotic day, I kept receiving back-to-back patients. Gianni was the trauma RN that day, but they made sure to check on me, help me with my patients, and make sure I was okay emotionally. She was also there for me for my first intubation patient. I received a middle-aged woman who came in with severe shortness of breath, and I knew it was going to be a difficult patient. The patient was distressed and acting erratically, but having Gianni there made a big difference. I knew it was going to be a challenging day, but having Gianni by my side made all the difference. Gianni remained calm and was reassuring that I could do it. I was fresh off orientation and I hadn’t done an intubation before. She held the patient’s hand and comforted her while instructing me on what we needed to get for intubation. She reassured me that I was capable and was going to do well and the patient would be okay. Despite the chaos, Gianni made the patient feel seen and cared for, and made me feel like I wasn’t a “dumb new nurse”. The patient's condition worsened rapidly, and we knew she needed to be intubated immediately. Gianni’s selflessness was obvious as she worked tirelessly, always putting the patient first while also ensuring I was okay.

The ER is always unpredictable, but she stayed flexible and enthusiastic, keeping a positive attitude that lifted my spirits, especially as a new nurse who looked up to her. Gianni and I worked together seamlessly. Although we were working quickly, Gianni focused on doing things right and safely, showing her clinical skills in every decision. Together, we successfully intubated the patient. Unfortunately, the patient coded shortly after, which was one of my first codes off orientation. Gianni remained calm, and we ran the code together, with Gianni explaining every step of the way while remaining swift and efficient in her actions. She made sure every detail was covered and that I was still the primary nurse keeping me hands-on. Not only did she provide critical care to the patient, she also brought a sense of hope and confidence to me as a new nurse.

Unfortunately, the patient did not make it through the code. Gianni and I had worked tirelessly on the patient, and our efforts were unsuccessful, which was a hard pill to swallow. Gianni showed empathy towards myself and the patient’s family, tending to their every need. She also ensured to instill confidence in myself and my skills as a nurse despite the outcome. We truly did everything that we could. Gianni showed me what nursing could and should be, making a huge impact on how I do my patient care. Gianni was named Rookie of the Year this year and is now a new charge nurse. Even though she is a fairly new nurse, she has already earned a lot of respect for her hard work and dedication, especially with the new grad RNs. That day, she showed everyone why. Gianni is an asset to our ER, and I love working with her every day. I think she deserves the DAISY Award for her efforts that day and every day.