I nominate Danielle Oldin for The DAISY Award for the extraordinary care she provided to Baby B during his nearly 5 month stay in the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center NICU. Danielle attended the delivery of a 25 week baby to a 17 year old mom and then assumed the role of his primary care RN. Baby B initially had the typical course expected for a small preemie; he was intubated, placed on a ventilator, and given the time he needed for his tiny body to grow and develop. His clinical course veered from the norm when his lungs matured to the point that he was able to have his endotracheal tube removed. Extubation was planned, and Baby B failed his attempts to breathe without his endotracheal tube. It is not unusual for a baby to fail extubation once or twice, but Baby B failed over 9 planned extubations and numerous self-extubations, resulting in him being intubated for over 3 months.
Through all of these extubations and re-intubations, Danielle was there, caring for Baby B as if he was her own. Caring for a 2-3 month old intubated baby is a mentally and physically exhausting experience. Baby B was angry and frustrated, he would pull on any wires and lines he could get his tiny hands on and whip his head back and forth in efforts to get his tube out, but the most heart breaking aspect was his silent cry. Danielle worked tirelessly, every shift, to make him comfortable. She would change his linen multiple times a day, give him numerous baths after he had worked up a sweat, and regularly changed his endotracheal tube holder when he would saturate it with drool. She would talk to him, make silly faces at him, play with him, and, if he was clinically stable, hold him any time she had a free minute. She always kept a positive, caring attitude, and if she ever became exhausted in caring for him, she never let it be known. She would also provide excellent care to her other assigned patients.
Danielle regularly used her assessment skills, critical thinking skills, and intuition to make sure that Baby B received the best care possible. I remember one day in particular, when she asked Baby B's doctors, "His color is a little off, and he is just not acting like himself. Can we check an H&H?" Sure enough Danielle was giving him a blood transfusion later that afternoon. She was constantly asking clarifying questions and collaborating with other disciplines. If she wasn't comfortable with the plan of care, she would either ask the doctors to explain it again or approach our ACMs to make sure that the plan was the absolute best thing she could do for her little boy.
It was determined that Baby B would need a tracheostomy. Danielle had limited experience in caring for babies with tracheostomy and had never been to the operating room for the surgical procedure. She started reading protocols, finding outside journal articles, and speaking with more experienced RNs concerning the procedure and post-op care of an infant with a tracheostomy. Danielle switched around her work schedule so that she could be by Baby B's side while he was getting the tracheostomy procedure. She educated herself and helped to educate the other staff on Baby B's care team on the best ways to care for this child with a tracheostomy. Baby B also eventually went down for a gastrostomy tube, and Danielle did the same thing for this procedure.
Danielle also overcame barriers with Baby B's parents. The parents had a difficult time bonding with him due to their age and the high acuity of the infant. Danielle made sure to call mom on a regular basis to make sure they were aware and understood Baby B's plan of care. She facilitated bonding by encouraging the parents to hold and interact with their baby. She initiated care conferences and guided his parents through this process. She educated and re-educated the parents using different education methods, on the care of an infant with a tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube. She fostered an environment of openness and caring to help the parents learn how to care for their infant.

Baby B was eventually stable enough to be transferred to a long term care facility, and I firmly believe that he did as well as he did due to Danielle's extraordinary care for this infant. She even accompanied him on his transfer to the long-term care facility, making sure that he was settled and happy before she left.
Witnessing Danielle care for Baby B was a special experience. I watched her grow as a nurse and inspire others to provide the high level of care that she provided. For nearly 5 months, she selflessly and tirelessly cared for this challenging patient every shift. She truly exhibited the values, mission, and philosophy of Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center on a daily basis, and I believe that she deserves to be recognized with the DAISY Award.