Sam Sierra
February 2026
Sam
Sierra
,
RN
Laulima
Adventist Health Castle
Kailua
,
HI
United States
Sam noted something like, “There it is!” And regarding removal of the blockage with a syringe, “This was in the video!”
Aloha; My apologies for not being more precise in my dates and times, but it was not my intent to make a submission for a DAISY Award. However, after the exemplary assistance I received from Sam and her handling of a problem with my Chest Tube, I find I must at least try to give support for her efforts on my behalf. Hopefully, events as I describe can be matched with Sam’s scheduling around that time to confirm my submission.
In my opinion, a submission for a DAISY Award is quite appropriate. During Sam’s Pulama shift, part of her job was to evaluate the performance and record results of the device measuring effluent from my Chest Tube. Sam had been trained with a few other nurses in Dr. L’s program for the use of the Chest Tube.
On her shift near the planned end of my stay after my surgery, Sam noticed that there was a blockage where my Chest Tube went into the measuring and recording device. As I recall, it was dark as she searched for the blockage and the cause of the blockage, and she may have even used a flashlight. As the device was based on gravity flow, it was placed on the floor and in the shadow of all above it. But she persevered and identified the problem. My background is in invention and innovation, so I am very familiar with the “aha!” moment and how it all comes together when a problem is solved. Sam noted something like, “There it is!” And regarding removal of the blockage with a syringe, “This was in the video!”
When I described this event to Dr. L, he was very pleased, and I am sure he will comment if asked about it. He was particularly happy that, as a patient, I was able to observe and appreciate the event. The nice thing is that Sam and I were able to discuss her discovery and resolution of the problem, since it meant so much to me in terms of being able to have the Chest Tube removed and go home, and for Sam as a nurse, providing quality nursing care.
In my opinion, a submission for a DAISY Award is quite appropriate. During Sam’s Pulama shift, part of her job was to evaluate the performance and record results of the device measuring effluent from my Chest Tube. Sam had been trained with a few other nurses in Dr. L’s program for the use of the Chest Tube.
On her shift near the planned end of my stay after my surgery, Sam noticed that there was a blockage where my Chest Tube went into the measuring and recording device. As I recall, it was dark as she searched for the blockage and the cause of the blockage, and she may have even used a flashlight. As the device was based on gravity flow, it was placed on the floor and in the shadow of all above it. But she persevered and identified the problem. My background is in invention and innovation, so I am very familiar with the “aha!” moment and how it all comes together when a problem is solved. Sam noted something like, “There it is!” And regarding removal of the blockage with a syringe, “This was in the video!”
When I described this event to Dr. L, he was very pleased, and I am sure he will comment if asked about it. He was particularly happy that, as a patient, I was able to observe and appreciate the event. The nice thing is that Sam and I were able to discuss her discovery and resolution of the problem, since it meant so much to me in terms of being able to have the Chest Tube removed and go home, and for Sam as a nurse, providing quality nursing care.