I was hired as a day shift nurse and had to transition to nights due to the stress of days. I was constantly getting debilitating migraines and panic attacks before shifts. So, needless to say, my transition wasn't really by choice- I was very nervous and learned very quickly how different things were. All of my charges are great but I have worked the most with Erick. I can honestly say I think he's the reason I have adjusted well and one of the reasons I have chosen to stay as long as I have. He is kind and caring, he helps with whatever you ask of him, and he has helped me catch up on countless occasions. Not to mention placing me probably at least 100 IVs with the ultrasound (lol). He listens to me vent when things are going poorly or I am not getting the appropriate responses from people and often manages to say just the right thing to make me laugh and snap me out of it.

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I am writing this nomination for Erick Garcia not for a singular event but for the totality of the professionalism, compassion, and skill that Erick Garcia brings to the nursing profession every day. Erick is one of the most superb nurses I have worked with. He has a demeanor and aura that is both calm and compassionate. That demeanor is infectious to his fellow healthcare professionals and influences us all in a positive way. In high-stress situations, he is both clinically excellent and also emotionally consoling as well. When rapid responses are called while he is the charge nurse, his expertise and resourcefulness ensure that the best possible patient care is provided. His calmness under pressure rubs off on the nurses he works with and allows everyone to perform to the best of their abilities. I have seen him on numerous occasions comfort critically ill patients and their families when the decision to convert to hospice care is made. I have seen him reassure, educate, and debrief his staff after code blues, rapid responses, code BERTs and otherwise chaotic shifts. It is one thing for a nurse to do these things, as it is our nature, but the way Erick does his job is nothing short of above and beyond. When his nurses get an admit from the ER or a transfer from another unit, he is always in the room helping to settle the patient. He is always the first nurse to step up and help out, and he does this with such enthusiasm.

When I was brand new in my role, I brought a patient to PCU while Erick was charge nurse. The patient unfortunately became unstable shortly after arriving to PCU and the need for an ICU upgrade became very apparent. While frustration at the situation could have occurred, Erick’s calm demeanor and dedication to patient care prevailed. Things can go wrong. It happens like that sometimes. You just have to keep doing what is best for the patient. Is what he said to me when we started to stabilize the patient and prepare them for transport to ICU. His words in that situation represent the very ethos of the nursing profession. Being kind, supportive, and benevolent to patients as well as the nurses who he leads as a charge nurse is why Erick Garcia is a true DAISY Nurse.