Erika Bays
February 2025
Erika
Bays
,
MSN, RN, CCRN
SICU
Cincinnati VA Medical Center
Cincinnati
,
OH
United States
Throughout this entire process, Erika made an incredibly difficult assignment look seamless and easy. She flawlessly handled her nursing tasks at the bedside, while still providing a high level of compassion and caring.
I am nominating Erika Bays from the SICU for the DAISY Afor her above and beyond care for a Veteran on his last day with us. This patient required emergency surgery two days prior, and his chances of survival were very slim due to his illness. When Ms. Bays arrived on Friday, she was assigned this patient as he was the sickest patient on the unit, and we felt she was the most capable nurse to care for him. Throughout her shift, she proved just how right we were with that decision.
The Veteran’s blood pressure would continuously drop despite being on three different pressors. Erika found alternative ways to help improve the patients blood pressure without increasing the rates of the medications. Unfortunately, due to his low blood pressure, the Veteran could not tolerate any sedation medication. This resulted in him being alert and understanding of everything going on around him while still being intubated. Erika would stand next to the Veteran and hold his hand, calmly talking to him to ease his anxiety. She made it seem that she was always by his side despite constantly having to leave it to adjust medications, get equipment or talk to the surgeons and family. She would make sure all of his needs were being met and eased his anxiety with her compassion.
Erika was very kind to the family and helped them grasp what was happening to their loved one. She worked tirelessly to keep the Veteran’s vital signs as normal as possible, while also adding compassion and a true sense of caring to the tasks. The Veteran was extubated as his oxygenation remained normal. Later in the day, the Veteran suddenly became very difficult to arouse. He had started to take the path of no return. The family was now trying to figure out what they should do, and Erika was right there by the surgeon’s side to help answer any questions they had. She brought empathy along with her ability to translate what the surgeon was saying to the family.
Eventually, the family decided to make the Veteran comfort care, and the Veteran passed a few minutes later. Throughout this entire process, Erika made an incredibly difficult assignment look seamless and easy. She flawlessly handled her nursing tasks at the bedside, while still providing a high level of compassion and caring. Most times, this would almost require two nurses to be able to both care for the Veteran and be present for the family when needed as much as Erika was that day. The family expressed their praise of Erika to me and how thankful they were to have her by their loved one and their own side through this difficult ordeal.
The surgeon stated, “I am definitely glad you were the nurse taking care of him today because you knocked it out of the park.” Ms. Bays is a true asset to this unit and organization. There are many stories we can tell about Erika going above and beyond with the Veterans and their families. This encounter with the Veteran, the Veteran’s family, and other staff is truly the perfect display of professionalism, caring, and compassion.
The Veteran’s blood pressure would continuously drop despite being on three different pressors. Erika found alternative ways to help improve the patients blood pressure without increasing the rates of the medications. Unfortunately, due to his low blood pressure, the Veteran could not tolerate any sedation medication. This resulted in him being alert and understanding of everything going on around him while still being intubated. Erika would stand next to the Veteran and hold his hand, calmly talking to him to ease his anxiety. She made it seem that she was always by his side despite constantly having to leave it to adjust medications, get equipment or talk to the surgeons and family. She would make sure all of his needs were being met and eased his anxiety with her compassion.
Erika was very kind to the family and helped them grasp what was happening to their loved one. She worked tirelessly to keep the Veteran’s vital signs as normal as possible, while also adding compassion and a true sense of caring to the tasks. The Veteran was extubated as his oxygenation remained normal. Later in the day, the Veteran suddenly became very difficult to arouse. He had started to take the path of no return. The family was now trying to figure out what they should do, and Erika was right there by the surgeon’s side to help answer any questions they had. She brought empathy along with her ability to translate what the surgeon was saying to the family.
Eventually, the family decided to make the Veteran comfort care, and the Veteran passed a few minutes later. Throughout this entire process, Erika made an incredibly difficult assignment look seamless and easy. She flawlessly handled her nursing tasks at the bedside, while still providing a high level of compassion and caring. Most times, this would almost require two nurses to be able to both care for the Veteran and be present for the family when needed as much as Erika was that day. The family expressed their praise of Erika to me and how thankful they were to have her by their loved one and their own side through this difficult ordeal.
The surgeon stated, “I am definitely glad you were the nurse taking care of him today because you knocked it out of the park.” Ms. Bays is a true asset to this unit and organization. There are many stories we can tell about Erika going above and beyond with the Veterans and their families. This encounter with the Veteran, the Veteran’s family, and other staff is truly the perfect display of professionalism, caring, and compassion.