Izabela has been a nurse in the UCLA Health System for over 30 years and was awarded the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2020. She received her Master of Science in Nursing, is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP), and is a certified registered nurse in Neonatal Intensive Care (RNC-NIC). She has demonstrated her strength in clinical practice through her service in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and both Neonatal Intensive Care Unit locations. Izabela has demonstrated strong leadership and administrative expertise in her NICU Lead Charge Nurse position. She works hard to ensure that the day-to-day activities of the NICU run smoothly, especially during high-census periods and amidst difficult staffing challenges.

Izabela prioritizes patient safety and the well-being of her NICU team. She earns the trust of her colleagues by approaching challenging situations (e.g., unexpected admissions) with decisiveness and creativity. Her leadership style is guided by her self-direction and ability to hone in on what matters most to her patients, families, and colleagues. She spends valuable time educating patient families and colleagues, leading to improved patient outcomes. Every action that Izabela took in her career promoted a positive image of professional nursing.

Izabela consistently serves as a role model to her peers and strongly advocates for nursing practice and advancing nursing as a professional. Although Izabela has been functioning as an Administrative Nurse for the last few years, she teams up with her fellow nurses at the bedside to assist with admissions, procedures, code situations, periods of instability, and difficult psychosocial situations with families. She treasures her connection with her team and is very protective of her staff, always acting as a knowledgeable and supportive mentor. She advocated using the latest evidence-based practices to guide her patient care plan. She believes that one must know the strengths and opportunities of all team members to create cohesiveness and lead to the best patient outcome. She practices Relationship-Based Care and leads with her heart.

Izabela has always strived to achieve more and advance her career as a nursing professional. She has had opportunities to advance her career as a neonatal nurse practitioner. However, Izabela firmly believes in the importance of familial relationships and values strong connections with her patients, colleagues, and families. This belief and her passion for bedside nursing inspired her to continue her path as a NICU Nurse Leader. Izabela consistently advocates for improved patient care and is an exemplar for enhancing the patient and family experience.

Izabela remains educated on the latest evidence-based practices and serves as a mentor to her colleagues. She works hard to educate patients' families to improve patient care. She is passionate about safe staffing and staffs the unit in ways that contribute heavily to our excellent patient care. She is very perceptive and can easily detect nervousness, anxiety, and sadness in our staff and patient families. If she detects any negative emotions in staff or patient families, she quickly comes to their rescue and exudes feelings of comfort and safety. She makes others feel at ease, less anxious, and more positive. She recognized the importance of staff well-being and its effect on patient care and patient experience. She works hard to eliminate feelings of anxiety and uneasiness in her staff, which directly contributes to their enhanced patient care. This promotes a positive and psychologically safe unit atmosphere that makes patient families feel safe and at ease. If she notices a family member or parent struggling emotionally, she stays by their side, talks to them, and helps them through their difficult time. Izabela is a magnificent, caring, and special nurse who directly contributes to a positive and safe environment for everyone who knows her.

Note: This is Izabela's 2nd DAISY Award!