As a physician, I’ve had the privilege of working with many outstanding nurses, but few exemplify the qualities of an extraordinary nurse leader as completely as Carla. A former dialysis nurse who recently transitioned into the renal nurse case manager role, Carla has not only stepped into this new position with grace but continues to support the dialysis unit and take calls when needed, always going above and beyond for our Veterans and her team.

Carla embodies the DAISY Nurse Leader mission: she is unfailingly kind, collaborative, and tireless in her efforts to ensure compassionate, coordinated care. She is a role model to staff and a trusted advocate for patients. She maintains open lines of communication with colleagues, patients, and families alike, which fosters a culture of trust, respect, and shared purpose.

One moment that truly captures Carla’s impact happened during a particularly busy clinic day. A patient was scheduled to be seen at 10 a.m. in the renal clinic and then sent for an echocardiogram at 11 a.m. However, confused by our VA’s complex layout, the patient mistakenly went to the echocardiogram appointment first. Since our renal clinic closes in the afternoon to make room for other services, we initially thought we had missed our window to see him.

Carla, alongside our MSA M, didn’t let this patient fall through the cracks. She immediately reached out to the patient’s wife to understand what had happened. Upon learning that the patient had inadvertently gone to the echo first, Carla sprang into action. She coordinated with me, M, and clinic leadership to find an alternate exam room that afternoon. She literally stood in the hallway to greet and guide the patient to the new clinic space, while continuing to communicate updates in real-time between the care team and the family.

It was a small miracle of coordination that allowed the patient to receive the care he needed that day, and it happened only because Carla refused to give up on him. This situation reflects everything that makes Carla exceptional: her proactive problem-solving, clear and compassionate communication, deep respect for patients’ time and effort, and tireless dedication to getting things right. She not only solved a logistical issue, but did so with empathy and urgency, recognizing that this patient had driven over two hours to be seen and that rescheduling would have been a significant burden.

Beyond individual moments like this, Carla is actively working to expand education and options for our Veterans. In her short time as renal case manager, she has already taken the initiative to help implement a kidney options class, which helps Veterans understand the full spectrum of care choices, including dialysis, transplant, and medical management. She visited a similar program at the affiliate university hospital to learn best practices and is currently collaborating across disciplines, including social work, nutrition, and our telenephrology coordinator, to create a class tailored to the unique needs of our VA population.

Through all of this, Carla remains the same warm, grounded presence: she’s the person staff turn to when things get tough, the one who always says, “Yes, I can help,” and the voice of calm and kindness when patients or families feel overwhelmed. She inspires trust through her actions, not just her words. For all these reasons and more, I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Congratulations, Carla, on this well-deserved honor. Thank you for your outstanding service and for being a beacon of hope and inspiration to us all!