Mika Lagman is a very special nurse, as she stepped up to be a clinical leader at the most vulnerable times for nurses at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. She realized that the critical care department needed help as there were no CNS or Educators for years in critical care. Mika Lagman stepped up and talked to her leaders, expressing her willingness to assist and help. Self-driven and passionate about helping out her peers, she worked with the union, HR, and leaders to transition to a role. The moment she transitioned, COVID hit the planet. As per the union requirement, the nurse can provide care to COVID-19 patients only after completing the training. So Mika volunteered to take care of the first COVID-19 patient and demonstrate to other nurses that this is safe. Later, she and her peers trained all nurses on safety protocols for caring during COVID times.

Today, Mika is one of our amazing critical care educators, leading the way, training every single nurse coming into critical care, and leading the educational initiatives. The most courageous action Mika just did recently - she literally saved a patient by providing just-in-time education about lary-tubes. The patient was admitted with a chronic modified airway; none of the nurses in the medical-surgical areas knew about a laryngectomy and what tubes exist to support the airway. Mika was on her way home, she turned back and even though she covers critical care, she took her time to develop simple educational visual tools that allowed any nurse to provide excellent care for a patient with a modified airway. Because of Mika’s willingness to help, the patient did well and was discharged in a week!! In addition, the organization realized the need to build a process to support any patient with a modified airway across the organization!! We are so proud to have Mika with us! She is an example of the Educator, the mentor, and the super Nurse that every patient would love to have!

Note: This is Mika's 2nd DAISY Award!