Traci Pedersen
December 2024
Traci
Pedersen
,
RN
Emergency Department
Bryan Medical Center West Campus
Lincoln
,
NE
United States
Traci exemplifies the true spirit of nursing education, consistently going above and beyond to support both patients and staff in our fast-paced, high-stress environment.
Traci has a unique ability to inspire and empower our new hires in the emergency department. She goes beyond her duties to make sure they feel comfortable in the department before they go off orientation. She will come in early and stay late to help them grow and build individualized orientation for each employee. Traci serves as a role model for professionalism, compassion, and clinical expertise for all staff in the ER. Beyond training new staff, Traci has built a strong unit-based practice committee to help our ER department become stronger in providing the best care to all of our patients.
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I am honored to nominate Traci for the DAISY Award. She has made a profound impact on patient care by leading and implementing an Emergency Department (ED) residency program aimed at equipping nurses with the skills and experience to handle high-acuity, low-frequency situations. Through this program, Traci empowered nurses to manage rare critical cases with confidence and competence, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes in high-stakes scenarios. Recognizing the unique challenges of the ED, Traci developed a curriculum that simulates real-life complex cases, allowing nurses to practice essential skills in a controlled environment. This hands-on, immersive approach to education has enabled bedside RNs to develop rapid response skills and critical thinking under pressure, providing them with the tools to offer safe, efficient, and compassionate care to patients in their most vulnerable moments.
In addition to the residency, Traci has pioneered a training program in ultrasound-guided peripheral IV insertion for bedside RNs. This initiative has been transformative not only in increasing access to effective IV placement in challenging cases but also in reducing patient discomfort and improving care efficiency. By training nurses in this advanced skill, Traci has decreased reliance on external specialists, reduced patient wait times, and empowered nurses to deliver high-quality care with fewer barriers. The dedication and passion Traci demonstrates in educating and empowering her colleagues make her an invaluable asset to our ED team. Her efforts have strengthened our team’s capability to manage acute situations, enriched the skill set of our nursing staff, and, most importantly, enhanced the quality of care our patients receive every day.
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I am honored to nominate Traci for the DAISY Award in recognition of her exceptional dedication, expertise, and compassion as a nurse educator in the emergency department at Bryan Medical Center. Traci exemplifies the true spirit of nursing education, consistently going above and beyond to support both patients and staff in our fast-paced, high-stress environment. She has an extraordinary ability to make complex concepts accessible and meaningful, empowering new nurses with the confidence and skills they need to thrive. Traci uses a hands-on approach to teach skills to ensure that each team member feels supported and prepared to deliver the highest quality of care. This is demonstrated by the work that she has put into our ED Nurse Residency Program for new hires, where she utilizes the simulation lab and classroom education to do a deep dive into concepts when there is time to process and ask questions to further strengthen the knowledge for staff.
One of Traci’s most remarkable qualities is their ability to inspire. She not only teaches clinical skills but also instills the values of empathy, teamwork, and resilience. Traci leads by example, showing grace under pressure and always prioritizing the well-being of patients and staff. Traci accommodates the staff schedules and works all hours in the 24 hours’ worth of shifts that the Emergency Department has. Traci is one of the smartest individuals I have ever had the opportunity to work with. She processes information and makes sound decisions based on all components involved. She thinks creatively and out of the box to help us come to decisions on process improvements that are going to provide better, more efficient care to the patients that we serve. The BMC Emergency Department is so lucky to have an educator of this caliber!
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I am honored to nominate Traci for the DAISY Award. She has made a profound impact on patient care by leading and implementing an Emergency Department (ED) residency program aimed at equipping nurses with the skills and experience to handle high-acuity, low-frequency situations. Through this program, Traci empowered nurses to manage rare critical cases with confidence and competence, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes in high-stakes scenarios. Recognizing the unique challenges of the ED, Traci developed a curriculum that simulates real-life complex cases, allowing nurses to practice essential skills in a controlled environment. This hands-on, immersive approach to education has enabled bedside RNs to develop rapid response skills and critical thinking under pressure, providing them with the tools to offer safe, efficient, and compassionate care to patients in their most vulnerable moments.
In addition to the residency, Traci has pioneered a training program in ultrasound-guided peripheral IV insertion for bedside RNs. This initiative has been transformative not only in increasing access to effective IV placement in challenging cases but also in reducing patient discomfort and improving care efficiency. By training nurses in this advanced skill, Traci has decreased reliance on external specialists, reduced patient wait times, and empowered nurses to deliver high-quality care with fewer barriers. The dedication and passion Traci demonstrates in educating and empowering her colleagues make her an invaluable asset to our ED team. Her efforts have strengthened our team’s capability to manage acute situations, enriched the skill set of our nursing staff, and, most importantly, enhanced the quality of care our patients receive every day.
***
I am honored to nominate Traci for the DAISY Award in recognition of her exceptional dedication, expertise, and compassion as a nurse educator in the emergency department at Bryan Medical Center. Traci exemplifies the true spirit of nursing education, consistently going above and beyond to support both patients and staff in our fast-paced, high-stress environment. She has an extraordinary ability to make complex concepts accessible and meaningful, empowering new nurses with the confidence and skills they need to thrive. Traci uses a hands-on approach to teach skills to ensure that each team member feels supported and prepared to deliver the highest quality of care. This is demonstrated by the work that she has put into our ED Nurse Residency Program for new hires, where she utilizes the simulation lab and classroom education to do a deep dive into concepts when there is time to process and ask questions to further strengthen the knowledge for staff.
One of Traci’s most remarkable qualities is their ability to inspire. She not only teaches clinical skills but also instills the values of empathy, teamwork, and resilience. Traci leads by example, showing grace under pressure and always prioritizing the well-being of patients and staff. Traci accommodates the staff schedules and works all hours in the 24 hours’ worth of shifts that the Emergency Department has. Traci is one of the smartest individuals I have ever had the opportunity to work with. She processes information and makes sound decisions based on all components involved. She thinks creatively and out of the box to help us come to decisions on process improvements that are going to provide better, more efficient care to the patients that we serve. The BMC Emergency Department is so lucky to have an educator of this caliber!