Curt is a true DAISY Nurse Leader. The surgical care units were selected as one of our Streamlining Care pilot units because of Curt's leadership, including his collaboration, excellence-driven qualities, innovative thinking, and compassion. Curt has led his team to appreciate the why behind using the expected discharge date, patient milestones, and the EPIC discharge level up tools. He rounds, seeks feedback from staff, and advocates for the interdisciplinary team by bringing solutions to weekly debriefing meetings. He has suggested using standard calendars to ensure leaders have time devoted to this work, and his improvement boards are up to date and include initiatives to make improvements. He attends unit huddles to share our purpose and why this work is important. Curt comes to the Tues and Thurs long length of stay meetings knowing the patient's story, including what is prohibiting the patient from progressing, bringing solutions, and follows through on I will statements, including conversations with bedside staff, providers, and patients to ensure a safe and timely discharge. He is not afraid to make an out-of-the-box suggestion and encourages others to think differently as well.

Curt is a visible and accountable leader. I often see him rounding on the units, coming in early to catch the night team, and he isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves and pitch in. Curt shows up each day with a "can-do it" attitude, even when it seems a bit unrealistic, he figures out a way to make things happen. I often use him as a sounding board and inspiration when I need to approach a situation with a growth mindset.

He is also a mentor not only to me, but to others. He has been a key influence in developing another nurse's leadership skills and coaches her on managing and sustaining change. He is willing to grow the next generation of nurses by precepting students; his most recent graduate nursing student helped create education tools for the Streamlining Care initiatives and assisted in rounding to promote change. Curt lives our CentraCare purpose, Our Best Begins with Me and demonstrates our High Reliability Principles each and every day.