Kristen truly exemplifies a DAISY Nurse in the care she provided over many months to a long-term patient. She routinely took this high-acuity patient without complaint and provided exceptional care through many difficult days throughout his recovery. While in the inpatient setting, this patient was often alone, and Kristen’s advocacy and report-building were essential to him receiving the care and emotional support needed. This was a truly difficult situation in many ways with a variety of medical complications and complex family dynamics present. Even still, Kristen was innovative in thinking of solutions to help make every day as good as possible for this patient. She and physical therapy organized NERF gun wars around the halls and nurse’s station, rolled around the halls to speak with other nurses and spent extensive time outside as weather allowed. She helped to organize an elaborate birthday celebration for him and took interest in his music and movie preferences.

Any time rehab was scheduled, she would make sure to have him ready or offer to bring him downstairs to have access to opportunities for rehab in the outpatient gym. She also offered to bring him downstairs to the cafeteria to create some normalcy even with picking out food and eating as if he was out in the community. All of these examples display how Kristen displayed her huge heart in advocating for this patient’s quality of life while in the inpatient setting. Her commitment to this patient allowed him to feel hopeful that there was another side to what he was currently experiencing. That he was supported and cared for even though he was not experiencing that from his direct family members. This showed through in the patient’s comfort in confiding in her when he was struggling with his slow progress and medical/social complexities. This trust was also revealed through his trust in her and the permission to be more of himself around her. She is a true advocate, a phenomenal nurse, and an incredibly selfless person. We are lucky to have her as a nurse at St. Jude.