April 2026 Honoree
Nichole Rekowski 2, BSN, RN, C-EFM
Nomination #1:
After enduring a 43-hour induced labor, my family and I were in a vulnerable state as we navigated the blur of exhaustion and delirium. The sheer volume of medical information felt like a "fire hydrant rush" and nearly impossible to process. Nurse Nichole stepped into this chaos and immediately became the grounding force we needed.
What set Nurse Nichole apart was her understanding of my history with trauma, anxiety, and depression. She didn’t just treat me as a clinical case; she treated me as a whole person. She was incredibly patient and attentive, slowing down the pace of care to ensure I felt seen and safe. By prioritizing my mental health as much as my physical recovery, she provided a level of safety that was critical to my well-being.
Nurse Nichole recognized that my recovery was a team effort. She took the time to coach my husband, specifically outlining how he could best care for me during the transition home. She validated the importance of his role in my healing process. By educating him on the signs of postpartum struggle and the nuances of emotional support, she empowered him to be an active guardian of my mental health.
Nurse Nichole's care extended beyond the bedside. She proactively scheduled my postpartum mental health check-in after getting my consent. By handling these logistics while I was still in the thick of recovery, she ensured I would have a continuous safety net. She balanced clinical expertise with trauma-informed empathy that makes patients feel truly safe. She didn't just help me recover from birth; she helped my entire family start this new chapter with confidence and peace of mind.
Nomination #2:
Nichole was there for the delivery of my first child three years ago. She went above and beyond. She held me up at 9 cm dilated to get an epidural. She remained in touch with me and reached out when she found out I was pregnant again with twins. She made a promise she would be there for my scheduled C-section even if she wasn’t working that day.
My water ended up breaking at 32 weeks and 6 days. I couldn’t reach my doctor right away but was able to reach Nichole. Luckily, she was there that day and helped bring my twins into the world. She even wheeled me into the special nursery to see the boys after my C-section. My boys were in the NICU for a month, and whenever Nichole was on, she would check on my boys, send me pics if I wasn’t there, and was just always there for me.
Nichole made a real scary time not so scary for both my husband and me. She is not just a nurse but a friend. She dedicates herself to everyone she is in contact with.
This is Nichole's 2nd DAISY Award!
After enduring a 43-hour induced labor, my family and I were in a vulnerable state as we navigated the blur of exhaustion and delirium. The sheer volume of medical information felt like a "fire hydrant rush" and nearly impossible to process. Nurse Nichole stepped into this chaos and immediately became the grounding force we needed.
What set Nurse Nichole apart was her understanding of my history with trauma, anxiety, and depression. She didn’t just treat me as a clinical case; she treated me as a whole person. She was incredibly patient and attentive, slowing down the pace of care to ensure I felt seen and safe. By prioritizing my mental health as much as my physical recovery, she provided a level of safety that was critical to my well-being.
Nurse Nichole recognized that my recovery was a team effort. She took the time to coach my husband, specifically outlining how he could best care for me during the transition home. She validated the importance of his role in my healing process. By educating him on the signs of postpartum struggle and the nuances of emotional support, she empowered him to be an active guardian of my mental health.
Nurse Nichole's care extended beyond the bedside. She proactively scheduled my postpartum mental health check-in after getting my consent. By handling these logistics while I was still in the thick of recovery, she ensured I would have a continuous safety net. She balanced clinical expertise with trauma-informed empathy that makes patients feel truly safe. She didn't just help me recover from birth; she helped my entire family start this new chapter with confidence and peace of mind.
Nomination #2:
Nichole was there for the delivery of my first child three years ago. She went above and beyond. She held me up at 9 cm dilated to get an epidural. She remained in touch with me and reached out when she found out I was pregnant again with twins. She made a promise she would be there for my scheduled C-section even if she wasn’t working that day.
My water ended up breaking at 32 weeks and 6 days. I couldn’t reach my doctor right away but was able to reach Nichole. Luckily, she was there that day and helped bring my twins into the world. She even wheeled me into the special nursery to see the boys after my C-section. My boys were in the NICU for a month, and whenever Nichole was on, she would check on my boys, send me pics if I wasn’t there, and was just always there for me.
Nichole made a real scary time not so scary for both my husband and me. She is not just a nurse but a friend. She dedicates herself to everyone she is in contact with.
This is Nichole's 2nd DAISY Award!
Thank you, Nichole, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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