I nominate Liz Helling, RN from the NEICU for the DAISY Award. Liz is one of the most caring RNs that I have ever met. She consistently starts her days figuring out what she can do to help her patients and their families - whether it is medically, physically or emotionally. Liz is very strong in all areas of her nursing care; but her best trait is definitely her personality. She effortlessly seems to bond with her patients and families to put their fears at ease.

Liz took care of a patient who had been in the Neuroscience & ENT Intensive Care Unit for around three weeks with a diagnosis of Guillain-Barre. This patient was one who was previously very independent. He was having a very hard time dealing with his diagnosis and his inability to perform minor tasks. The patient could not move any of his limbs. He had had a very rough hospital stay in which he had received a tracheostomy tube and was most frustrated with the fact that he could not talk to his nurses to let them know his needs and/or use a call light to call for help. A day that Liz cared for him was one of his most frustrating days where he was almost inconsolable when Speech Therapy came to visit with him about communication. Even though Liz's other patient was one of the sickest on the unit, Liz made time for this patient. She put him in a cardiac chair, pointed him toward his window for sunlight and a change of scenery. She then sat and talked with him about his family, life and occupation. Although interpretation took longer because of lip-reading, she made time for him - never appearing rushed. They had a meaningful conversation. Later in the day, he was smiling more often, appearing less anxious and even able to sit with his wife in front of a picturesque window in the hallway in his cardiac chair for more than 30 minutes - which Liz had arranged.

Another patient and family who Liz made an impact on was a 70-year old patient who was also on our unit for a few weeks. This patient had a history of recurrent head and neck skin squamous cell carcinoma with a prognosis of about four months to live. He was admitted for a carotid wound infection and had to have a carotid stent placed to repair the vessel as well as long-term antibiotics. During the patient's hospital stay, Liz and the patient's elderly wife bonded; the rest of the family lived hundreds of miles away and could not come to visit. Therefore, Liz would sit with her, talk and help her any way possible. Liz became part of the wife's support system. Upon discharge, they exchanged phone numbers. About a week ago, Liz told me she was making a 4-hour trip after work. She informed it was to go and visit this patient and his wife. The wife had called her during the week to tell her that her husband was not doing very well and she expected him to pass in the near future. Liz could tell that the wife was upset and really needed someone to be with her during this scary time; so, Liz did not even think about it, she drove to Great Bend, Kansas after her shift.

The most amazing thing about Liz is that she wants no recognition for anything that she does. When I told her how much she inspires me and how good of a person that she is, she simply responds, "No, I'm not. It's no big deal, really." Her calm demeanor and caring heart make Liz one of the best assets in our NEICU. We are so lucky to have her.