Ms. Katie Files, RN is the dayshift Charge Nurse on the Medical/Surgical Telemetry Unit. Charge nurses shoulder a considerable amount of responsibility. In fact, the role of the charge nurse is often described as an air traffic controller. They are the point of contact for nursing staff, physicians, and hospital administration. To ensure every Veteran is appropriately cared for, every charge nurse must possess strong organizational skills, for it is he or she who organizes the work of their teams. At the start of a shift, the charge nurse distributes the workload so that staff resources are used most efficiently. This includes considering each individual nurse's knowledge, skills, and abilities, thus ensuring our Veterans are given safe and quality care. In addition, charge nurses need to possess strong communication skills and the ability to be a leader. Clinical competence in the area assigned is identified as being important to effectively coach and mentor others; therefore, charge nurses are accountable for keeping abreast of nursing knowledge and skills. Significantly, the qualities of being approachable and nonjudgmental are critical.  As Ms. Files is the dayshift, Charge Nurse on the Medical/Surgical Telemetry Unit, she truly is the frontline of the unit. 

When I think of Ms. Files, I immediately think of the Pathway to Excellence, the highest global credential for positive practice environments. It features a framework that closely aligns with the AAACN's strategic goals. The Pathway framework includes six evidence-based practice (EBP) standards that promote environments in which nurses have a voice and work collaboratively, and staff contributions are valued. The framework enhances staff engagement and characteristics associated with better organizational outcomes for patient care quality, satisfaction, and safety, as well as nurse satisfaction and retention. As shown through the example below, Ms. File’s character and professionalism denote The Pathway to Excellence in multiple standards, including leadership, safety, and well-being. 

Standard 2: Leadership. This standard emphasizes development, orientation, retention, accountability, and succession planning.

Standard 3: Safety. This standard protects the well-being of nurses, staff, and patients and fosters a workplace culture free from incivility, bullying, and violence. 

Standard 6: Well-being. Added as a Pathway standard in 2016 to address the problem of health professionals suffering silently “behind the mask,” well-being undergirds the entire Pathway framework. Pathway promotes staff well-being and resilience as essential components of the organization's strategic planning. 

Recently, an employee conveyed plans of ending her life to an Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM). The ANM wanted to take the employee to the facility's Emergency Room, but the employee declined. Significantly, the employee agreed to go to a local hospital for treatment. With permission, the employee’s mother was called, but she was two hours away.  Day shift charge nurse, Ms. Katie Files, RN, meaningfully a nurse the employee trusted, knocked at the ANM's door to see if the employee was okay.  The employee informed her she would be leaving and needed to go to a local hospital. Ms. File’s shift was soon to end, thus, she volunteered to take the employee to the local hospital and stay with her until she was safely in their care. Ms. Files arranged care for her young child and drove the employee to the local hospital. Three hours later, Ms. Files called the ANM and shared the employee was safely in the care of those at that local hospital.  Charge nurses fill a unique role and in today’s health care environments, confront many challenges in their daily work. As caretakers, liaisons, and point people, these professionals balance the responsibility found in leadership roles with the medical competencies of registered nurses. In this one instance, Ms. Files not only remained in touch with the unit needs regarding veterans but also successfully maintained a safe environment for her colleague beyond the unit level.  With that being said, I would like to nominate Ms. Katie Files, dayshift Charge Nurse on Medical/Surgical Telemetry Unit, for the DAISY Award. Regardless of the circumstances, Ms. Files is compassionate and always has great integrity.