I am nominating Mateah McDoulett for a DAISY Award. My Dad has renal cancer and ESRD. He was initially admitted to the step-down unit for low blood pressure and was started on Levophed to keep his blood pressure up. It was decided that he needed a higher level of care and CRRT. He was transferred to the ICU, and Mateah was his nurse for 3 night shifts. During his first night, his baseline orientation changed, and he was unarousable. With vigorous stimulation, we were able to get him to open his eyes, but he was not oriented to person, place, or time. Mateah immediately sprang into action. I told her that this had happened during a prior admission, and his CO2 was found to be elevated. She listened to me, called the doctor immediately, and requested a blood gas. I have been an RN for 29 years, and I know that sometimes what the family says is often disregarded, but Mateah heard me and followed her instincts. My Dad's CO2 was 78, and his pH showed he was acidotic. He was immediately started on BiPAP.

Several repeat labs later, his CO2 was not improving as fast as the Hospitalist wanted, and the threat of intubation loomed over us. We all knew that if he was intubated, there would be the risk that they would not be able to wean him off the ventilator. Mateah was not going to let that happen. She noticed that if we could get him to take deep breaths, we could keep his Tidal Volume above 300, which was the goal. Without deep breaths, his TV fell below 200. Mateah pulled up a chair, and for 4 hours straight, she sat at his bedside and called out his name with instructions to take a deep breath. I tried to stay awake to help, but exhaustion won, and Mateah continued the fight! By 0500, labs, his CO2 had improved enough that the Hospitalist agreed he would not need intubation! Mateah managed his blood pressure, his CRRT, and his BiPAP like a pro! I would not have known that she had only been a nurse for 2 years had I not asked! My Dad is 79 years old, and he sometimes feels like medical staff are ready to give up on him, but Mateah proved to him that there are nurses out here who fight for their patients! She was also so considerate to my mom, my sister, and me. She was always asking how we were doing, too! Mateah has restored my faith in this new generation of nurses, and she will always have my and my family's highest regard for the way she fought for my Dad. My Dad was discharged a week later and is currently at home with my mom, his wife of 56 years. Thank you, Mateah, for giving us more time with my Dad.