I would like to nominate the Fargo Dialysis Nurses for the DAISY Team Award. This small, but mighty team has worked tirelessly this past year. With Covid, this team saw patient numbers that were 2-3x higher than pre-Covid. They were able to provide care to this extraordinary number of patients because of their positive attitudes, their commitment to patients, and their teamwork. Many days they worked past their normal shifts (actually most days), went home and were on call through the night, and came back to do it all again. So many of their patients were acutely ill and frequently they were in isolation due to Covid.

Besides performing their usual job of hemodialysis, these nurses provided enormous amounts of support to Covid patients who could not have visitors. While others limited their time in these patient rooms, dialysis nurses sat for a complete 4-hour dialysis run in yellow gowns, masks, and face shields at the bedside. The conversations they had with patients were therapeutic for patients, distracting them, comforting them, reassuring them, and giving them hope.

As this team's director, I also want to recognize that I never had to worry about how to take the next dialysis patient. Every time, this team stepped up. Whether it was our regular staff, Stacy who helped many shifts even though she has a new job in the clinic, or Vicki, who is our traveler (now our family), they always figured out a plan. They supported each other. They supported me!! And honestly, I have no idea how we made it through with only 4 nurses on staff! And the most amazing part is the wonderful care they have given every one of our patients! Way to go team!!