Benjamin "Nick" D Lagunilla
September 2024
Benjamin "Nick" D
Lagunilla
,
RN
Allergy Clinic
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
Palo Alto
,
CA
United States
They were overjoyed and grateful for the team, especially to Nick, for not giving up on trying. Normally, if the child refuses, we would reschedule them for another time with a long waitlist that takes months, but Nick demonstrated resilience and creativity.
I am proudly nominating Benjamin (Nick) Lagunilla for the DAISY Award. Beyond the common traits of a nurse, Nick exemplifies resilience and creativity in his care, making him a perfect candidate for this recognition. When Nick first joined our team, he had minimal experience with pediatric patients. However, he quickly proved to be a natural at establishing rapport with our young patients. His ability to connect extends to parents as well, making them feel reassured and confident in his care. It's no surprise that several families specifically request Nick for their child's procedures, a testament to the trust and comfort he brings to them.
A recent instance for my nomination for Nick is a patient we had in the clinic for a food challenge procedure to peanut allergies. The procedure required extra support such as child life specialist due to patient’s anxiety and aversion to food. Knowing that the procedure can take long hours, he had to come up with something creative at each step of the way.
To conclude the procedure, it must be completed. The result can either diagnose the food allergy or can de-label the patient with peanut allergy. Nick has been very persistent in finishing the procedure for the patient’s benefit as this will open less food restriction to the patient and improve quality of life.
As each step may be difficult for the patient, it is also difficult for the nurse conducting the procedure. Nick has a way with kids through his creativity. He came up with mixing food with applesauce and use an oral syringe to plunge it back to the pouch. He even spent time with the child and played his favorite games to alleviate anxiety despite the demands of the clinic schedule. He used games and rewards to keep the whole thing moving. As the food challenge finished, the family was happy to know that their child passed as concluded by the physician. They were overjoyed and grateful for the team, especially to Nick, for not giving up on trying. Normally, if the child refuses, we would reschedule them for another time with a long waitlist that takes months, but Nick demonstrated resilience and creativity. He understands the time that the family had to accommodate for this procedure, such as school, work, and other life events.
Nick has greatly improved over time working in pediatric allergy and immunology. His connection with kids is natural and has a way of fun. Although this seems to be different from what nurses in the hospital experience or do for patients, but this is the beauty in ambulatory specialty. This is one of those highlights that deserve the recognition in an outpatient setting where we don’t see patients in acute conditions. I am proud to nominate Nick for the DAISY Award.
A recent instance for my nomination for Nick is a patient we had in the clinic for a food challenge procedure to peanut allergies. The procedure required extra support such as child life specialist due to patient’s anxiety and aversion to food. Knowing that the procedure can take long hours, he had to come up with something creative at each step of the way.
To conclude the procedure, it must be completed. The result can either diagnose the food allergy or can de-label the patient with peanut allergy. Nick has been very persistent in finishing the procedure for the patient’s benefit as this will open less food restriction to the patient and improve quality of life.
As each step may be difficult for the patient, it is also difficult for the nurse conducting the procedure. Nick has a way with kids through his creativity. He came up with mixing food with applesauce and use an oral syringe to plunge it back to the pouch. He even spent time with the child and played his favorite games to alleviate anxiety despite the demands of the clinic schedule. He used games and rewards to keep the whole thing moving. As the food challenge finished, the family was happy to know that their child passed as concluded by the physician. They were overjoyed and grateful for the team, especially to Nick, for not giving up on trying. Normally, if the child refuses, we would reschedule them for another time with a long waitlist that takes months, but Nick demonstrated resilience and creativity. He understands the time that the family had to accommodate for this procedure, such as school, work, and other life events.
Nick has greatly improved over time working in pediatric allergy and immunology. His connection with kids is natural and has a way of fun. Although this seems to be different from what nurses in the hospital experience or do for patients, but this is the beauty in ambulatory specialty. This is one of those highlights that deserve the recognition in an outpatient setting where we don’t see patients in acute conditions. I am proud to nominate Nick for the DAISY Award.