Lindsay Holt, PhD, RN

I am honored to nominate Lindsay Holt for the DAISY Award. Dr. Holt is the kind of instructor whose passion for critical care is impossible to miss — it radiates from her in every lecture, every clinical shift, every conversation. Her unbridled enthusiasm for the subject, paired with her immense depth of knowledge, creates an environment where students feel both challenged and supported. She brings critical care to life in a way that makes you want to rise to the occasion. Dr. Holt has a remarkable ability to meet students exactly where they are. She answers every question with patience and clarity, never making anyone feel small for not knowing something. If a concept doesn’t land the first time, she reframes it without hesitation, finding new angles until it clicks. Her teaching is grounded in generosity — of time, of energy, of herself.
One moment that captures who Dr. Holt is happened when encouraging the class to take part in the STOPS mass‑casualty simulation. It was an activity I never would have participated in on my own; the idea highly intimidated me. But Dr. Holt's encouragement — the huge grin on her face, the way she bounced on her toes with excitement as she explained the sim week — made me believe I could do it. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Because of her, I stepped into a situation far outside my comfort zone, and I came out of it more confident, more capable, and more certain of the nurse I want to become. She challenges her students in the best possible way: not by pushing them past their limits, but by helping them discover how much more they’re capable of. Dr. Holt's mentorship extends far beyond clinical skills. She supports students academically, professionally, and personally. She offers guidance on job applications, career paths, and interviews, but she also gives advice on life — how to navigate stress, how to stay grounded, how to grow into the kind of nurse who leads with both competence and compassion. She willingly gives so much of herself to her students, and her impact is felt long after the shift ends. Lindsay Holt is an extraordinary educator, mentor, and nurse. She inspires her students not only to learn, but to love learning. She makes us want to be better — for our patients, for our teams, and for ourselves. Her passion, generosity, and unwavering belief in her students make her profoundly deserving of the DAISY Award.