A family presented to the Emergency Department, which included a man, a woman, a 3-year-old female, and a 1-year-old male. The 1-year-old male was registered for cold-like symptoms. The patient was triaged and placed back in the waiting area. The patient’s mother approached the registration desk to inquire about the waiting time. At the same time, she slid a note to registration stating, “Help me. He’s going to kill me.” Registration acted quickly and relayed the message to security and our 804 County Officer. Baltimore County police were contacted immediately for backup and arrived at the hospital within minutes.   

The county officer informed the ED charge RN (Tanisha Thomas) of the situation unfolding. The nurse quickly thought of a way to safely separate the man and woman with children. She went to the waiting room and asked which child was being seen. The nurse got the mother and the child back to triage under the pretense of needing to get the child’s weight. Upon further investigation in triage, the mother reported that the patient’s father had a gun and threatened to kill her and the children before arrival at the hospital. At this time, police arrived, and the patient’s father was placed in police custody while the mother and her children were safely in the back. The nurse’s quick assessment and calculated reaction were essential to save this woman and her children’s lives.  

She safely removed the child and woman to safety without alarming the man. The nurse’s exceptional leadership style is the epitome of what DAISY represents. Her heroism was extraordinary and admired throughout the MFSMC organization. She pushed fear aside to place the family in a safe atmosphere. Tanisha’s perseverance and dedication are most recognized for the difference she makes every day to her co-workers and patients as a DAISY Nurse. 

We at MFSMC honor you today and are very grateful for your presence and commitment to our organization. It is an honor and a privilege to present this award this evening.