I am thrilled to nominate Megan Davis for the DAISY Nurse Educator Award. Megan exemplifies extraordinary dedication and excellence in her role as the NICU Clinical Educator, making significant contributions to our NICU and throughout NMCSD. Megan is a highly skilled educator who is deeply invested in the professional development of her colleagues, and her commitment to education and professional development is unparalleled. For example, she made a complete overhaul of our orientation program for new nurses and corpsmen. Her efforts have streamlined the orientation process, making it more efficient and effective. By providing comprehensive education and training, she has ensured that new staff members are well-prepared to deliver high-quality care to our patients. Additionally, she takes the time to ensure that staff are up to date on their training and skills, answering questions and providing guidance without ever making anyone feel inadequate or unimportant. Her approachable demeanor and willingness to support staff in their learning journey create a positive and nurturing learning environment. Megan's innovative approach to education is evident in countless ways, including her creation of monthly interdisciplinary NICU Journal Clubs. These journal clubs provide opportunities for collaborative learning and knowledge sharing, enhancing the professional development of our staff. In addition to teaching and coordinating educational classes for NICU staff, Megan goes above and beyond to offer continuing education units (CEUs) to encourage staff participation and ongoing learning. Additionally, her dedication to providing engaging and interactive educational activities, such as the NICU Escape Room Simulation, Joint Commission Jeopardy, and Skills Fair Relay (to name a few), has made learning fun and effective for our team.

Megan's impact and leadership extend beyond educational initiatives. She consistently demonstrates a commitment to excellence by ensuring that our unit meets and exceeds quality and safety standards. Her efforts in organizing monthly interdisciplinary mock code simulations and submitting monthly hand hygiene audits have been instrumental in maintaining our unit's readiness and preparedness. She also regularly updates NICU policies and procedures to ensure adherence to evidence-based practices and has created numerous go-bys for documentation and workflow processes, significantly improving efficiency and workflow within our unit.

Megan's leadership extends beyond the NICU. She has led the BBMA project for our command, working tirelessly to ensure the safe administration of breastmilk to our most vulnerable patients. Her dedication to patient safety and advocacy led to an enterprise-wide safety standdown, highlighting her commitment to the well-being of our patients and staff. Megan also serves as the Program Director for both STABLE and NRP, providing vital training to healthcare professionals throughout our command. Her recent collaboration with the Pulmonary Department to register over 20 Respiratory Therapists for NRP highlights her dedication to ensuring that all staff are well-equipped and trained to respond to critical situations. Her dedication to promoting open communication and collaboration among all healthcare team members has been instrumental in enhancing patient care and outcomes. She serves as a bridge between nursing staff and providers, facilitating effective communication and teamwork across the entire team. Her commitment to supporting and uplifting her colleagues is genuinely remarkable. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure staff feel supported and valued. Whether it's checking in with staff to see how they're doing, lending a helping hand during admissions, or assisting on the unit with sick patients, Megan's compassion and willingness to help are evident in everything she does.

Even amidst her busy schedule, Megan remains patient, kind, and attentive to others' needs. She ensures that everyone's voices are heard and takes the time to celebrate her colleagues' achievements and contributions. Megan exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional nurse educator. Her tireless dedication, innovative approach to education, and unwavering commitment to excellence have profoundly impacted our NICU and healthcare community. She truly deserves the DAISY Nurse Educator Award.