I have been one of Mikayla’s clinical instructors throughout her student career here at SJVC. Mikayla exemplifies what the DAISY Award represents. Long before starting this program, Mikayla had overcome so many challenges. Although I don’t know most of the details, I know she once shared in skills lab that she has had every tube, line, and catheter discussed. I see the visible scars on her body that all have a story. Despite this, Mikayla is one of the friendliest, kindest, positive people you will meet. In preparing this nomination, I googled the characteristics of a great nurse. Things like good communication skills, good critical thinking skills, time management, prioritization, and teamwork were listed. While all those are great characteristics to have and are needed to be a successful nurse, I think things like perseverance, compassion, and empathy are far greater.

Perseverance is the ability to pursue a passion and determination to overcome obstacles. Despite the normal obstacles of nursing school, Mikayla adds to it with multiple doctor’s appointments, dealing with pain, and facing cruelty from people with no clue what she has endured. Yet here she is today, graduating.

Compassion is an understanding of how others feel and a desire to help ease their pain and suffering. I remember the first weeks of skills lab. Most students are scared and nervous. Mikayla stood out to me because despite all being new to her as well, I overheard her encouraging her classmates and giving them pep talks on not giving up and they could do this. This past April, Mikayla was in term 3 skills preparing for her OB rotation. She asked me how the juniors were doing and when their first day of clinical would be. She wanted to make them cookies because she remembered how scared she was that first day of clinical. One thing about Mikayla is she is a stress baker. Although I’m sad she was stressed, I have reaped the benefits from her baking. Fast forward 6 weeks. I’m in skills with the juniors and received a text from Mikayla wanting to bring cookies over to the lab. I had forgotten about this. She and a peer came over, gave the juniors a good luck pep talk, answered questions and left them with a yummy cookie. What was extra special about her timing was we had just finished a very heavy discussion on end-of-life care and to break the tension, I said let’s have a cookie- cookies make life better.

The most important characteristic Mikayla has is empathy. Empathy is being able to feel and understand what others are going through from their perspective. The obvious is Mikayla has experienced many medical procedures. She can relate and share her experiences. What’s so amazing about her is she has turned all the negative experiences by using them in a positive way. Helping others. During Mikayla’s pediatric rotation, she was assigned to observe children at a daycare center. We end the day with a post-conference, where students discuss their day. I remember all she said was, “The kids were cute.” The next day I received a call from the daycare staff wanting to discuss one of my students. When she said it was regarding Mikayla, I was confused. Apparently, two kids, aged 5-6 years, were laughing and making fun of Mikayla’s scars on her face. She informed me this behavior was discussed with the kids and their parents, and one of the parents had a written letter of apology that she was trying to get to her. I texted Mikayla, letting her know I had a letter for her, but I didn’t say I knew what it was about. Mikayla proceeded to tell me about her experience. I apologized and felt so bad for her. These are her words per her text: “It’s completely okay. I’d just rather no kids get told things or made fun of. I grew up getting made fun of in school, and that was no fun, so I just wanted to say something to hopefully prevent any kid from getting bullied or told things.” She continued and texted, “I brushed it off 'cause they were kids, and they don’t know things. I only mentioned it to the teacher, so she was aware because I don’t want other kids to get made fun of.”

I truly believe all things happen for a reason. I also believe Mikayla has been divinely placed in this career for a reason. Let’s recognize Mikayla Carrasco as an extraordinary nursing student and celebrate her contributions to the field of nursing she has so far given and yet to give.