June 2026 Honoree
Kaitlin Sullivan, BSN, RN
Kaitlin was the nurse for my daughter on day two of our stay for a spinal fusion. We were on Weaver 4 and had a rough first day, pain-wise. Kaitlin started the morning with a smile and a kind introduction. She treated my daughter with respect and kindness, most importantly she included her in her care.
My daughter has a developmental delay that is not always obvious to others and struggles with anxiety. She is strong and brave but has a low pain tolerance. Kaitlin was patient with her and really did her best to hear out her worries and address them. She calmed her and explained every step when she removed her Foley catheter. She encouraged her as she cried through the pain of walking. She never made her feel ashamed of her tears or her emotions. As a parent, that is something I appreciate immensely. It's easy to want to rush and get through your tasks as a nurse.
When it came time to replace her PIV in order for her to get a last dose of antibiotics, there were a lot of tears. Our initial IV experience when coming into this stay was less than ideal, leaving my daughter overwhelmed with the fear at the thought of going through it again. When Kaitlin was not successful, she didn't blame my daughter or say it was an issue with her veins. She calmed her, apologized, and made it right. She didn't care about her own pride and attempted again just to prove she could. Kaitlin called the PICC team, and together they were able to make it happen.
The experience was nothing short of perfection. The PICC nurses were quick and efficient. While they worked, Kaitlin kept my daughter's spirits high and sang along to Taylor Swift. She encouraged her and praised her bravery. Later, when my daughter was embarrassed for her crying and reactions, Kaitlin assured her that there was nothing to apologize for.
Kaitlin was a true safe space, and it is not easy to have my daughter open up socially and trust someone. It may not seem out of the ordinary for her everyday job, but from a mom's perspective, she was exactly the nurse we needed to make it through that day. She was a friend to my child. She was the kindness in what could have been a scary core memory.
Kaitlin went above and beyond in so many other ways in this one 12-hour shift. She embodied the "Wolfson way". When my grandfather-in-law came in to visit, he was distraught about his own personal bill. He is old-fashioned and wanted to pay in person. When I was brushing him off and telling him to pay over the phone or online, she was willing to go the extra step without even being asked. She made multiple calls to try and find the billing office or location he could pay at. She even offered to walk over to the other building to try and find the new office she had been directed to when they didn't answer. There was literally no need for her to do all of that.
At one point, every grandparent was present at the same time. She never lost her patience with their questions or their suggestions on what was needed. We all know grandparents can have lots of opinions and typically no filter. She handled it all with grace and compassion.
She is most deserving of the DAISY Award for extraordinary compassionate nursing.
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Congratulations, Kaitlin; thank you for all you do for our patients, families, and team members! You are an inspiration to us all!
My daughter has a developmental delay that is not always obvious to others and struggles with anxiety. She is strong and brave but has a low pain tolerance. Kaitlin was patient with her and really did her best to hear out her worries and address them. She calmed her and explained every step when she removed her Foley catheter. She encouraged her as she cried through the pain of walking. She never made her feel ashamed of her tears or her emotions. As a parent, that is something I appreciate immensely. It's easy to want to rush and get through your tasks as a nurse.
When it came time to replace her PIV in order for her to get a last dose of antibiotics, there were a lot of tears. Our initial IV experience when coming into this stay was less than ideal, leaving my daughter overwhelmed with the fear at the thought of going through it again. When Kaitlin was not successful, she didn't blame my daughter or say it was an issue with her veins. She calmed her, apologized, and made it right. She didn't care about her own pride and attempted again just to prove she could. Kaitlin called the PICC team, and together they were able to make it happen.
The experience was nothing short of perfection. The PICC nurses were quick and efficient. While they worked, Kaitlin kept my daughter's spirits high and sang along to Taylor Swift. She encouraged her and praised her bravery. Later, when my daughter was embarrassed for her crying and reactions, Kaitlin assured her that there was nothing to apologize for.
Kaitlin was a true safe space, and it is not easy to have my daughter open up socially and trust someone. It may not seem out of the ordinary for her everyday job, but from a mom's perspective, she was exactly the nurse we needed to make it through that day. She was a friend to my child. She was the kindness in what could have been a scary core memory.
Kaitlin went above and beyond in so many other ways in this one 12-hour shift. She embodied the "Wolfson way". When my grandfather-in-law came in to visit, he was distraught about his own personal bill. He is old-fashioned and wanted to pay in person. When I was brushing him off and telling him to pay over the phone or online, she was willing to go the extra step without even being asked. She made multiple calls to try and find the billing office or location he could pay at. She even offered to walk over to the other building to try and find the new office she had been directed to when they didn't answer. There was literally no need for her to do all of that.
At one point, every grandparent was present at the same time. She never lost her patience with their questions or their suggestions on what was needed. We all know grandparents can have lots of opinions and typically no filter. She handled it all with grace and compassion.
She is most deserving of the DAISY Award for extraordinary compassionate nursing.
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Congratulations, Kaitlin; thank you for all you do for our patients, families, and team members! You are an inspiration to us all!
Thank you, Kaitlin, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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