Kathleen Poindexter and Carol Vermeesch nominated Dr. Chastity Warren for the DAISY Nurse Educator Award for her extraordinary approach to student-centric teaching. Dr. Warren works to create an inclusive, open, and trusting learning environment where students feel safe to learn. She begins each pre-class session hosting “Coffee with Chastity,” where open discussion is encouraged, and inspirational stories are shared.

The tables in her classroom contain items such as doodle pads and fidget items to assist students in being focused and engaged. Her classroom tables are arranged in pods to promote student sharing of ideas and peer problem-solving. A student credited Dr. Warren with her ability to seek critical health services; she felt safe sharing a difficult personal crisis. The student is now a critical care nurse and volunteers as a peer mentor to assist other nurses and students in crisis.

Another one of Dr. Warren’s students shared a memory as a new graduate nurse. She was asked a question during her interview on patient prioritization based on a “team report.” The student noted that one patient had met the SIRS criteria, and she identified that patient as a top priority. The interviewer told the student that she was the only person applying to the new graduate position to have identified this priority correctly. The student wanted to let Dr. Warren know that she is an “awesome teacher who prepared her for the realities of practice.”