Nicole Gehl is an amazing Heart Center nurse with clinical expertise in caring for post-op cardiac patients. Nicole's clinical expertise, critical thinking, and collaborative approach with the cardiac critical care medical team resulted in immediate attention and deployment of our cardiac surgery team to re-explore this baby's chest before further decompensation could occur. Nicole immediately recognized that the baby's instability was a result of SVC syndrome and advocated why she thought this was the case. Per Dr. G: "Nicole picked-up on the true diagnosis when the rest of us were thinking red-man syndrome".

Nicole's clinical expertise coupled with her collaborative approach saved the baby's heart from further decompensation. This not only exhibits safe and effective care but also the contribution of nursing to patient outcomes. We are fortunate to have Nicole on our Heart Team.