Kelsi Smith
May 2025
Kelsi
Smith
,
BSN, RN
Emergency Department
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs
,
IA
United States
She wears her heart on her sleeve and has a calm, reassuring voice that soothes the anxiety of patients and family members, clearing away any confusion they may have about their loved one's care.
I want to nominate Kelsi for the DAISY Award. As a nurse in the Emergency Department (ED), she has consistently provided outstanding and compassionate care, not only as a bedside nurse but also as Charge Nurse, time and time again. Her ability to remain calm, collected, and empathetic with patients and their families in high-stress moments and situations demonstrates a level of maturity in nursing that comes with her experience and sound judgment. Even when I've approached her while in charge, she has never been abrupt or in a hurry with me to answer my questions. I have yet to see her rattled with staff or impatient while speaking with those she serves.
When pressured under the demand of answering to providers, nursing staff, and family members, Kelsi uses her compassionate heart and soft, gentle voice to respond. She wears her heart on her sleeve and has a calm, reassuring voice that soothes the anxiety of patients and family members, clearing away any confusion they may have about their loved one's care. In the fast-paced Emergency Department, it is vital to scan the environment and atmosphere for problems and address them immediately. She has become so proficient in this skill that it has become second nature to her. It's pretty hard to leave your shift with everyone respecting you for the hard decisions you have had to make about their assignments, but I've yet to hear anything against her.
I also want to point out that I asked Kelsi if she would be interested and willing to proofread a 24-page Pregnancy Resource Packet that I have been working on for two years. The packet would provide pregnant women coming to the ED with options for resources. She didn't miss a beat and volunteered to do it for me and ultimately for the improvement of care for these women who come stressed out about being pregnant, are scared, and at a loss for where to turn. She wrote comments that were insightful and very useful. There wasn't a single editorial comment from her that I didn't incorporate into the revisions of the packet. The goal is for this packet to be published and in the hands of all the Omaha and Council Bluffs Pregnancy Crisis Centers, as well as all the maternity and child organizations that can offer free services in healthcare, housing, food, clothing, and much more. Her ability to envision the importance of providing compassionate care and resources to these women and their unborn babies is a testament to her dedication to serving all patients who come to the Emergency Department, not just those who have already been born.
When pressured under the demand of answering to providers, nursing staff, and family members, Kelsi uses her compassionate heart and soft, gentle voice to respond. She wears her heart on her sleeve and has a calm, reassuring voice that soothes the anxiety of patients and family members, clearing away any confusion they may have about their loved one's care. In the fast-paced Emergency Department, it is vital to scan the environment and atmosphere for problems and address them immediately. She has become so proficient in this skill that it has become second nature to her. It's pretty hard to leave your shift with everyone respecting you for the hard decisions you have had to make about their assignments, but I've yet to hear anything against her.
I also want to point out that I asked Kelsi if she would be interested and willing to proofread a 24-page Pregnancy Resource Packet that I have been working on for two years. The packet would provide pregnant women coming to the ED with options for resources. She didn't miss a beat and volunteered to do it for me and ultimately for the improvement of care for these women who come stressed out about being pregnant, are scared, and at a loss for where to turn. She wrote comments that were insightful and very useful. There wasn't a single editorial comment from her that I didn't incorporate into the revisions of the packet. The goal is for this packet to be published and in the hands of all the Omaha and Council Bluffs Pregnancy Crisis Centers, as well as all the maternity and child organizations that can offer free services in healthcare, housing, food, clothing, and much more. Her ability to envision the importance of providing compassionate care and resources to these women and their unborn babies is a testament to her dedication to serving all patients who come to the Emergency Department, not just those who have already been born.