I have known Nicole for approximately 5 years, with the last 3 as a direct report. It goes without saying that she is an excellent nurse but what sets her apart from the others is her ability to make our patients and staff feel calm and cared for through her compassionate care, tireless work ethic, and transformational leadership.
Just recently, we had a member with a poor prognosis inquire about a private bedside wedding to our chaplain. Upon hearing about the request from the chaplain, Nicole naturally went about pulling together the resources to set up a special and very memorable bedside marriage. By the end of the day, decorations were brought in from other units, flowers were donated by the gift shop, and a wedding cake was baked in our cafeteria. Although it was a group effort, I believe that it was Nicole's leadership, patient-centered focus, and ability to engage staff toward a meaningful goal that brought it all perfectly together.
Nicole's inspiring attitude turned what started off as another grim end-of-life situation into a beautiful and memorable experience for those involved. She is regularly receiving recognition from our members and staff, so the extraordinary work she does can seem ordinary. It has been a great privilege to work alongside her.
Note: This is Nicole's 2nd DAISY Award!