Nikki began working in the PICU while still in nursing school and after graduation and passing boards she transitioned to an RN position. When Nikki was interviewed for a position I asked her why she wanted to work in the PICU. I will never forget her response, she stated “because she had discovered what a privilege it was to care for people and she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.” Nikki has become an extraordinary pediatric nurse. She exemplifies the values of the DAISY award; she not only goes above and beyond her expected bedside responsibilities – she always goes the extra mile.

When we think of heroes in Critical Care Nursing we often think of life saving events with great outcomes. However, there are times when the hero shines through in quite the opposite of circumstances. Real nursing heroes are the ones who recognize that the core of nursing practice is being a patient advocate no matter the circumstance. Nikki is such a hero. Recently a patient was in our critical care unit; he was terminally ill and had a very limited family support system. Due to family circumstances, distance and financial constraints he was alone much of the time. Nikki went beyond the nurse patient relationship and became his friend. A care conference was held to discuss the seriousness of his condition and the grave prognosis. He was told that he would soon die due to the progression of his illness. Having recently lost his brother to the same disease, he knew exactly what everyone was talking about. As everyone left the room, it was Nikki who stayed behind to be with him. She held his hand and helped him to talk about his fears as he began to face his final days. Over the next week Nikki taught her patient that instead of waiting to die – even though he was bedridden – he needed to live each day to its fullest. Nikki came up with the idea for him to make a list of things that he wanted to do before he died…so she helped him make the list – and then she began to help him make the list happen.

The first thing on his wish list was to graduate from high school which was only a few weeks away. His illness had forced him to miss the majority of his junior and senior year. So she shared with the PICU leadership team and got the ball rolling to make that wish happen. With the approval of the school system he graduated from his high school with a standing ovation (with a nurse and a paramedic at his side). Another item on the wish list was to have his own computer, so Nikki contacted an organization for assistance – and arranged for him to have his own laptop computer. There were several movies on the wish list that he wished to watch – and Nikki brought them in for him. Another wish on his list was to try lobster – because he heard it was “expensive – and good.” So – Nikki went to Red Lobster and came up to the unit one evening – and shared a lobster dinner with her patient. The final wish on the list was to go home. As a palliative measure to support his failing cardiac function he would need to go home on a continuous Milrinone drip. This was a source of great anxiety for the family. Nikki helped his family gain understanding and acceptance of his prognosis and care needs. There were many staff in our unit who had a hand in the care of this young man; but Nikki was an unbelievable patient advocate who led the way.

Nikki embraces lifelong learning. She obtained her Associates Degree in nursing from a local community college. Immediately after graduation she enrolled in a BSN program and completed that program with honors. She participates in the organization professional ladder program and mentors other staff. She has successfully taken the CCRN exam and pursues further education because she feels strongly that it will allow her to provide the best possible patient care. As a staff nurse, Nikki is frequently asked to be charge nurse and preceptor for new staff and nursing students. She has volunteered her time and provided pediatric lectures at a local nursing school. Nikki represents the younger generation of nursing, she has an unending passion for patient care – and exemplifies the best in pediatric critical care nursing