Yesenia Cuba Martinez is an exceptional nursing student who excels in the classroom and in the clinical setting. Yesenia maintains a professional demeanor in all she does. She is always prepared for class and clinical experiences where she is actively engaged, adding to the classroom and clinical learning and she does not hesitate to help her classmates when needed. In the clinical setting, Yesenia is a self-directed learner. She has a quiet and calm demeanor and an excellent bedside manner. She provides astute, timely patient assessments and completes her work efficiently and accurately. She quickly identifies actual and potential risks and is proactive in escalating concerns and advocating for her patients. Her calm, compassionate nature allows her to establish rapport and trust with her patients and their families. She listens attentively to her patients and advocates effectively for them, ensuring their safety and the best possible outcomes. She is eager to help staff on the unit where needed and is a team player in all aspects.

In one instance on the clinical unit, she was asked to look in on a Spanish-speaking patient who was assigned to a classmate. Although the language line was in use in the patient's room, the patient was anxious and in pain. She visited with the patient and was able to communicate with him in his native language. She identified that the patient was uncomfortable with his inability to perform self-care and embarrassed by this, largely due to his age and his culture. In addition, the patient did not have family members readily present. She spent time with this patient, providing comfort and explaining the goals of his nursing care, and inquired if he had any further questions or needs with which she could assist. She then communicated with the staff some of the concerns expressed by the patient which helped the nursing staff to better understand and meet this patient's needs more effectively.

Yesenia assumes a leadership role when assigned and takes an active role in helping her patients, classmates, and nursing staff wherever she can. Yesenia aspires to become a nurse practitioner and hopes to work in areas where she can serve Spanish-speaking populations. Her skill, compassion, and dedication to her patients will certainly be an asset to this community which often experiences disparities in care due to barriers in language, socioeconomics, and access to care. Yesenia's calm, caring approach to her patients and her skilled, compassionate care exemplify the art and the science of nursing. I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Yesenia and feel that she is an excellent candidate for the DAISY in Training Award.