Denise Christiansen
May 2014
Denise
Christiansen
,
ADN, NRC
NICU
Children's Hospital Orange County
Orange
,
CA
United States

 

 

 

This nomination for Denise Christiansen is well earned. Denise is well respected by her peers, physicians, and the leadership team in the NICU for her high energy and devotion to her patients. Denise has been a dedicated CHOC associate in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 25 years. She possesses excellent clinical skills that she utilizes every day while caring for our often fragile and complex patients. Her abilities are exemplified while advocating for our families, ensuring that their voices are heard, and their questions are answered in both English and Spanish.
The sicker the patient is, the more Denise persists and gives of herself. Denise is an expert in caring for critical Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) patients and has shared her knowledge with every single nurse who has come to our NICU after her. Denise is a valued member of the PICC team and ECLS team and has been for several years. She frequently functions as the Labor and Delivery nurse, an expanded role in the NICU, attending high-risk deliveries with infants who require resuscitation. Meanwhile, she is thorough, industrious and attentive to the needs of her peers, acting as a resource for all the nurses. Denise is always there to help with an admit, feedings, start an IV, or help with a procedure. As a charge nurse and a peer, it is very comforting to know that Denise is on simply because of the strength in her ability as a bedside nurse to manage critical situations.
Denise, with her many years of nursing experience, often uses her expert assessment skills and decision-making abilities to identify and assist in problem-solving NICU issues. She maintains close communication collaborating with the Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Educator. Denise is as compassionate as she is passionate, especially during the end of life situations, with the families that she cares for in their often-long journey in the NICU often in end of life situations.
Denise is well-deserving of this DAISY Award. We are extraordinarily fortunate in the CHOC NICU to have Denise as a member of our team. Denise is a true asset to this organization.