Krista Norrid
May 2026
Krista
Norrid
,
BSN, RN
Trauma Program
Ascension St. John Medical Center
Tulsa
,
OK
United States
She leads with honesty and transparency, and her decisions are always grounded in what is best for patient care.
It is an absolute honor to nominate Krista Norrid for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Krista embodies what this award represents: compassion, commitment, and true leadership in nursing. Several years ago, she stepped into the Manager role on a temporary basis after the previous manager left. What began as a stopgap solution quickly became a calling—one she has fulfilled with unwavering dedication and grace. Krista didn't just "fill in"; she took ownership of the position and has led our team with excellence ever since.
Her role differs from that of a traditional nurse manager. In addition to overseeing her department, she is responsible for ensuring the entire trauma team meets the rigorous standards of the American College of Surgeons. This involves a vast amount of coordination, communication, and collaboration-not just with nurses and providers, but also with registrars and multiple other departments. The scope of her responsibility is immense, yet she handles it with humility, strength, and an inspiring can-do attitude.
This year, Krista led us through our first-ever survey—a monumental achievement. We began the year with a tremendous amount of work to do to meet the ACS requirements. In the midst of this critical time, her entire Performance Improvement team resigned. It would have been easy-and even understandable-for Krista to walk away. But she didn't. Instead, she dug in even deeper. For months, she took on the responsibilities of three people, ensuring that nothing fell through the cracks. Once she was able to bring on a new team, she poured herself into teaching, guiding, and encouraging them, helping them grow into a capable & confident team.
Krista is the kind of leader who never asks anyone to do something she wouldn't do herself. She is known for stepping in wherever she is needed, whether that means working late nights, weekends, or even answering calls from a kids' baseball game or soccer tournament. Her support is constant and deeply personal. Every holiday, we find small, thoughtful gifts on our desks. She never forgets a birthday and always makes time to recognize and celebrate her team.
More than anything, Krista is a pillar of encouragement and integrity. She leads with honesty and transparency, and her decisions are always grounded in what is best for patient care. She fosters a culture of trust, respect, and excellence, and in doing so, inspires us all to give our very best-because we know she's giving hers. She is not just a nurse leader—she is a mentor, a motivator, and a model of the kind of nurse we all aspire to be. It is without reservation that I nominate her for this well-deserved honor.
Her role differs from that of a traditional nurse manager. In addition to overseeing her department, she is responsible for ensuring the entire trauma team meets the rigorous standards of the American College of Surgeons. This involves a vast amount of coordination, communication, and collaboration-not just with nurses and providers, but also with registrars and multiple other departments. The scope of her responsibility is immense, yet she handles it with humility, strength, and an inspiring can-do attitude.
This year, Krista led us through our first-ever survey—a monumental achievement. We began the year with a tremendous amount of work to do to meet the ACS requirements. In the midst of this critical time, her entire Performance Improvement team resigned. It would have been easy-and even understandable-for Krista to walk away. But she didn't. Instead, she dug in even deeper. For months, she took on the responsibilities of three people, ensuring that nothing fell through the cracks. Once she was able to bring on a new team, she poured herself into teaching, guiding, and encouraging them, helping them grow into a capable & confident team.
Krista is the kind of leader who never asks anyone to do something she wouldn't do herself. She is known for stepping in wherever she is needed, whether that means working late nights, weekends, or even answering calls from a kids' baseball game or soccer tournament. Her support is constant and deeply personal. Every holiday, we find small, thoughtful gifts on our desks. She never forgets a birthday and always makes time to recognize and celebrate her team.
More than anything, Krista is a pillar of encouragement and integrity. She leads with honesty and transparency, and her decisions are always grounded in what is best for patient care. She fosters a culture of trust, respect, and excellence, and in doing so, inspires us all to give our very best-because we know she's giving hers. She is not just a nurse leader—she is a mentor, a motivator, and a model of the kind of nurse we all aspire to be. It is without reservation that I nominate her for this well-deserved honor.