The LCH Satellite Team is one of a kind. Made up of about 35 RNs and 35 HCTs, this group was created to help staff and support the entire hospital, with an emphasis on gen-peds units. Over the years, though, the team has grown into so much more. Today, they step into almost every corner of the hospital, from gen-peds to ICUs, to overflow spaces like 3L and the Peds ED. No matter where they are needed, the team shows up ready to help, adapt, and give their best to patients and families.

I’ve been lucky enough to grow up with this team, starting here as a new grad nurse, then moving into a clinical supervisor role, and now serving as their nurse manager. In my 5+ years, I’ve seen the highs, the lows, and plenty of challenges. But the one constant is how special this team truly is.

What makes the Satellite Team shine is their flexibility and positivity. They can walk into any unit, whether it’s a busy gen-peds floor or an overflow emergency department with 15+ boarding patients, and find a way to make things work. They lean on each other, encourage each other, and create a sense of calm even in the most stressful situations. That kind of teamwork doesn’t just make life easier for fellow teammates; it directly impacts patients and families who can feel the support and compassion in the care they receive, regardless of the location they receive it.

Recently, a family was admitted to LCH for an extended stay on one of the units. This family was known to be cared for regularly by Satellite teammates, both dayshift and nightshift. At discharge, the family ended up writing the most special WOW card, geared towards the entire Satellite Team:

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible care and compassion you’ve shown our daughter during our month in the hospital. Your entire Satellite Team went above and beyond every single day, and your kindness made this place feel like home away from home. We’ll never forget how supported, seen, and cared for you made us feel. You truly are a special team, and we are so grateful.”

Stories like this are what make me most proud of the Satellite Team. Time and again, they have embraced difficult circumstances, from staffing shortages to overflow surges, without hesitation. They don’t just do their jobs; they go above and beyond. They lift up the units they support, boost morale, and remind everyone around them what teamwork in nursing looks like.

This group is resilient, adaptable, and full of heart. To me, the Satellite Team is the perfect example of what the DAISY Team Award is meant to celebrate.