Erica Nickels
August 2023
Erica
Nickels
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
Supplemental Staffing
Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical Center
Richmond
,
VA
United States
She treated our son with so much care - just like her own. We knew he was in the best hands with her.
This nomination Is almost 10 years overdue, but I nominate Erica for a DAISY Award. In October 2013, my son was admitted to the PICU in critical condition with a spontaneous subdural hematoma. Upon arrival, my husband and I were scared, anxious, fearful...just a ball of emotions. Our baby boy had gone from a healthy 1 month old to clinging to his life in the blink of an eye.
Thank God for Erica. She was our nurse in the PICU, and she was one of the main reasons we made it through. She treated our son with so much care - just like her own. We knew he was in the best hands with her. She talked us through every step, communicating the process and breaking it down so we could understand.
She also encouraged self-care, which was so hard at that time. She advised my husband and me that 'we could not pour from an empty cup' and 'to take care of ourselves so we could take care of our son.' During our 3-week stay and one of the worst times in our life, she treated us like family. This hospitalization landed on our first-year wedding anniversary and when my son turned one month old. In honor of those two milestones, she made me a picture of a flower with his feet painted as the leaves. Ten years later, I still have that picture hanging in my office. It serves as a reminder of all the challenges my son pushed through and continues to grow through despite adversity.
Fast forward a decade later, our youngest son fell and got a laceration on his head, which required a trip to the Emergency Department. Upon being escorted to our room after registration and triage, we found out our nurse was none other than Erica. It was like a mini-reunion. She was able to see my oldest, whom she took care of 10 years ago, and took exceptional care of our youngest son that day. Erica is more than deserving of this award - you can tell this is not just a job for her...she really does put all her love into all the kids. It’s nurses like her that make the care at VCU Health unrivaled. The compassion, dedication, and willingness to go above and beyond her duties make Erica a true DAISY Nurse.
Thank God for Erica. She was our nurse in the PICU, and she was one of the main reasons we made it through. She treated our son with so much care - just like her own. We knew he was in the best hands with her. She talked us through every step, communicating the process and breaking it down so we could understand.
She also encouraged self-care, which was so hard at that time. She advised my husband and me that 'we could not pour from an empty cup' and 'to take care of ourselves so we could take care of our son.' During our 3-week stay and one of the worst times in our life, she treated us like family. This hospitalization landed on our first-year wedding anniversary and when my son turned one month old. In honor of those two milestones, she made me a picture of a flower with his feet painted as the leaves. Ten years later, I still have that picture hanging in my office. It serves as a reminder of all the challenges my son pushed through and continues to grow through despite adversity.
Fast forward a decade later, our youngest son fell and got a laceration on his head, which required a trip to the Emergency Department. Upon being escorted to our room after registration and triage, we found out our nurse was none other than Erica. It was like a mini-reunion. She was able to see my oldest, whom she took care of 10 years ago, and took exceptional care of our youngest son that day. Erica is more than deserving of this award - you can tell this is not just a job for her...she really does put all her love into all the kids. It’s nurses like her that make the care at VCU Health unrivaled. The compassion, dedication, and willingness to go above and beyond her duties make Erica a true DAISY Nurse.