Kassie Jo Resig

I am nominating Kassie Resig for the Student DAISY Award for many reasons, but specifically because Kassie possesses a servant heart. She is genuinely kind, honest, and empathetic to anyone she encounters, and she expects no reward, praise, or recognition in return. Kassie’s desire to serve and help others is evident every week in the clinical setting. She adapts easily and eagerly to any patient she is assigned to provide care. Most recently, Kassie assisted a nurse in admitting a critically ill patient on droplet precautions. Without hesitation, Kassie gathered personal protective equipment, which included an N-95 mask, and then said to me, “I was fitted for my N-95. Here is my card with the information. Can I please go in the room and help?” Fear of a highly transmissible infection didn't stop Kassie. Not only did she want to embrace the learning opportunity, Kassie wanted to help the nurse and provide comfort to the patient, even if it only included holding the patient’s hand or talking to him in her calming and reassuring voice.

Kassie consistently collaborates commendably with the healthcare team and prioritizes others' needs over her own. Near the end of a clinical day, a patient needed a nasogastric tube inserted; Kassie excitedly came to me and said, “My patient needs a nasogastric tube inserted, and my nurse said I can do it if it is okay with you. May I please stay and do it?” When I said, ‘Of course,’ Kassie gave the sweetest ‘yeah’ with a huge smile and clapped her hands. The joy she expressed in performing this menial task brought tears to my eyes. Kassie’s passion for nursing, love for others, and desire to lessen their burdens were clear to me in that moment.

In Kassie, I see a new nurse with gentle strength: a quiet influencer. Her soft voice and warm smile complement her effortless compassion. Kassie is loyal to the nursing profession and to all who know her. Likely without realizing it, Kassie shows her kindness and empathy to her classmates and professors. In group settings, she lets classmates speak first if they start to answer at the same time. When she does respond, she does so confidently, respectfully, and with a smile. I suspect her gentle strength gives her classmates a sense of calm without her recognizing it. Kindness seems to be a natural instinct for Kassie.

I am nominating Kassie Resig for the Student Daisy Award because she exudes compassion and radiates deep empathy, kindness, and understanding toward others, especially during vulnerable times, and she does so without expecting anything in return. Kassie’s servant heart and gentle strength are unique attributes that will touch the lives of anyone who knows her and, most importantly, make a difference in the lives of her patients and their families.