Recently, I was assigned to clean a Discharge room. As I was heading in that direction, my mop bucket accidentally hit the end of an empty bed parked in the hallway, causing it to flip off the cart and spill a large amount of mop water everywhere. This was the first time I experienced such an incident. Feeling quite embarrassed, I quickly grabbed wet floor signs from my cart and looked around to ensure no one was approaching, prioritizing safety. As I was trying to figure out how to clean up the water efficiently, a voice from down the hall said, "I'll get some towels for you," [said without hesitation].

When she approached, instead of just handing me the towels, she began placing them on the floor to help contain the water and prevent it from spreading. I insisted I could handle it because I knew she had patients to attend to, but she calmly reassured me that she had already made her rounds and was more than happy to help. But there’s more to the story. While I went to grab more towels, she stood guard to ensure no one else would walk through what could have been a hazard. When I returned with additional towels, Nicole, RN, took some from my hands and continued to assist me! Even when her phone rang—seemingly a call regarding a patient—she did not walk away while still attending to her nursing duties. Instead, she professionally answered while helping me, carefully managing the situation and answering questions without revealing any patient information.

The moral of this story is that this incredible nurse took the time to help a panicked EVS worker. She didn’t ignore me, hand off the towels to me, or walk away. She multitasked with grace, stood by my side until the area was safe and secure, and showed genuine compassion and teamwork. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare, I can honestly say I have never written a DAISY Award nomination for anyone. Nicole truly deserves this recognition! She is a true example of what a team member should be. Thank you, Nicole!