A nurse working in the ED is crucial in establishing effective communication channels. The nurse awarded this DAISY Award efficiently established a rapport with this nominator and the healthcare providers managing this patient care. Because the nurse set this bond immediately ensured a seamless flow of care.

The nominator arrived at Franklin Square Hospital around 8:15 a.m. After waiting in the fast-track ER for a few short moments, the patient was sent to the ER. She reveals her first nurse was fantastic. She was accommodating and made her feel very comfortable. The nominator informed this nurse that her mother was on the way and preferred to have all the diagnoses told only to the patient simply because the mom does not believe in medicine. She takes a spiritual approach to healing, not a medical one, which is met with lots of disruption and disrespect on her part. The mom is not afraid to display her anger towards medicine. Therefore, the nominator asked the nurse to have Mom leave the room whenever being told medical updates. The patient returned from her ultrasound and was assigned a new nurse.

"The recent caregiver developed an immediate rapport which gave me the confidence and respect to ensure that my mother would leave the room and ensure my stay was comfortable. Once I got into the room, we established a connection. She spoke to me more about what was going on. She was so helpful that she assisted the PA during my second pelvic exam. She patted my leg and held onto my hand. She was so kind, tender, and genuine. When they had to update me with any facts about what was going on with my endometriosis, they made sure that my mom exited the room and went into the waiting area. Of course, my mother was unhappy and hesitated while trying to cause a scene.

The nurse and the PA prompted my mom politely and respectfully to wait in the waiting room. Throughout my duration in the ED, the nurse would come back into the room to ensure I was OK. Mawiyah catered to my needs during my ED visit, including heated blankets. She gave me two pillows. She was just so kind. She talked to me like I was a person, not just a patient. She made sure that I felt comfortable. She let me know that everything will be OK. She told me that I was her patient and that she ensured I was comfortable, cared for, and felt safe."

Mawiyah made the nominator laugh and smile while providing comfort during a challenging time, especially with the nominator’s diagnosis. Although the nurse was merely doing her job, she felt the nurse was doing it better than she had ever seen it done before. The nominator could tell that the nurse cared. The nominator cannot thank the nurse enough, primarily when the nurse provides excellent discharge instructions. The nominator requested her caregiver’s name. The nurse stated: "That she was a nurse and that she was not needed on the paper, and that everything that I needed was there.” The nominator was loopy from the pain medicine, so I didn’t get her name. However, the nominator called back to find out who the nurse was. The patient was so grateful that people like this nurse exist in this world to be there to care for people like me. The nominator felt safe because the nurse made her feel safe. The nominator was hoping to have the correct name.

The nominator knew the nurse had braces because of her authentic smile, which made the nominator smile. The patient can’t thank Mawiyah enough. “Thank you so much, ma’am. You made me feel safe and made me feel seen. Thank you.