Victoria Brown
August 2025
Victoria
Brown
,
Msn, RN
Emergency Department
Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital
Santa Ynez
,
CA
United States
I will always be grateful for my shifts with Victoria, as she teaches me invaluable lessons as a nurse, mother, and friend. Her patients are truly fortunate to be in her care.
I have been working at SYVCH ED for just over two years, and even with nearly nine years of ED experience, I still feel like a "baby" nurse compared to the wealth of experience that my colleagues possess. I am continuously learning from every nurse I collaborate with, and I feel fortunate to often share shifts with Victoria, who has more than 20 years of experience as an ED nurse.
Unfortunately, after many years in the ED, including my own, it's common for us to become jaded, and our empathy and patience can diminish. I am constantly impressed by Victoria, not only because she is one of the smartest and safest nurses I have ever observed, but also because she takes the time to mentor her coworkers. She sets a standard that I deeply respect. This is just a brief overview; I could go on about the significant impact Victoria has had on me.
My DAISY nomination comes from one particularly busy night. Victoria and I were caught up in a whirlwind of treating patients with efficient, almost robotic precision. Finally, we found a moment to grab a quick bite to eat and relax, when an elderly, bed-bound female patient pressed the call light. She was awaiting a transfer, but her anxiety was escalating to a state of agitation. I promptly asked the doctor for medication to help her relax and sleep while she waited. However, she declined the medication, stating that she couldn't bear to look at the walls in her room any longer and just needed to go somewhere else for a little while. I suggested watching TV, but explained that we couldn't move her to a wheelchair due to her hip injury. She opted to wait without medication, and I apologized before returning to my much-needed break.
A few minutes later, Victoria closed all the patient rooms for privacy and began pushing this patient’s bed around the ED multiple times. Despite not taking a sip of water or sitting down herself, she dedicated her time and empathy to this patient, engaging her in conversation the entire time to help calm her down. I watched them in what felt like slow motion, witnessing the grace and compassion of their interaction.
These are the moments that I believe leave a lasting impact on patients, often more so than medical treatments. This is why I became a nurse—not just to help people, but to continuously learn from both my patients and my coworkers. I will always be grateful for my shifts with Victoria, as she teaches me invaluable lessons as a nurse, mother, and friend. Her patients are truly fortunate to be in her care.
Unfortunately, after many years in the ED, including my own, it's common for us to become jaded, and our empathy and patience can diminish. I am constantly impressed by Victoria, not only because she is one of the smartest and safest nurses I have ever observed, but also because she takes the time to mentor her coworkers. She sets a standard that I deeply respect. This is just a brief overview; I could go on about the significant impact Victoria has had on me.
My DAISY nomination comes from one particularly busy night. Victoria and I were caught up in a whirlwind of treating patients with efficient, almost robotic precision. Finally, we found a moment to grab a quick bite to eat and relax, when an elderly, bed-bound female patient pressed the call light. She was awaiting a transfer, but her anxiety was escalating to a state of agitation. I promptly asked the doctor for medication to help her relax and sleep while she waited. However, she declined the medication, stating that she couldn't bear to look at the walls in her room any longer and just needed to go somewhere else for a little while. I suggested watching TV, but explained that we couldn't move her to a wheelchair due to her hip injury. She opted to wait without medication, and I apologized before returning to my much-needed break.
A few minutes later, Victoria closed all the patient rooms for privacy and began pushing this patient’s bed around the ED multiple times. Despite not taking a sip of water or sitting down herself, she dedicated her time and empathy to this patient, engaging her in conversation the entire time to help calm her down. I watched them in what felt like slow motion, witnessing the grace and compassion of their interaction.
These are the moments that I believe leave a lasting impact on patients, often more so than medical treatments. This is why I became a nurse—not just to help people, but to continuously learn from both my patients and my coworkers. I will always be grateful for my shifts with Victoria, as she teaches me invaluable lessons as a nurse, mother, and friend. Her patients are truly fortunate to be in her care.