DAISY Nurse Leader Award

It is with great pride and admiration that I nominate Lisbeth Mosquera for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Lisbeth’s journey through the healthcare profession is a testament to her relentless dedication, exemplary leadership, and unwavering passion for both patient care and the personal and professional growth of her team members. From her humble beginnings as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the Emergency Room, to her current role as the Director of the ER, Lisbeth has consistently gone above and beyond in every role she’s taken on, making a profound impact on all who work with her and benefit from her care. Lisbeth’s career is one of constant evolution and resilience. Starting as an LPN in the ER, she displayed a natural aptitude for patient care, quickly earning the trust and respect of her colleagues.

Recognizing her potential, Lisbeth advanced to become a Registered Nurse, where she continued to demonstrate exceptional skill and dedication to patient well-being. However, it was her decision to take on the incredibly challenging role of Nightshift Nurse Manager that truly set her apart as a leader. This position came at a particularly difficult time for the department, but Lisbeth embraced the challenge with grace, determination, and tireless commitment, ensuring the team remained cohesive, motivated, and focused on providing the best care possible under tough circumstances. In her current role as the Director of the ER, Lisbeth has continued to lead with the same passion and unwavering work ethic. She is not just a leader; she is a mentor, a guide, and a source of inspiration for all who work with her. Her leadership style is one of empowerment strives to bring out the best in everyone she works with, encouraging growth, development, and a commitment to excellence. She fosters an environment where her team feels valued, supported, and challenged to continually improve.

Lisbeth has a unique ability to recognize the potential in others, and she works tirelessly to help her team members achieve their own professional goals. On a personal note, Lisbeth has had a profound impact on my own career. Early in my professional journey, I faced moments of doubt and uncertainty about my ability to progress and achieve my aspirations. Lisbeth never wavered in her belief in me. She was a constant source of encouragement, always reminding me of my potential and pushing me to aim higher. Her mentorship and guidance helped me see beyond my limitations, and because of her, I’ve been able to accomplish things I never thought possible. Lisbeth’s selflessness in her dedication to others, her patience, and her genuine desire to see everyone around her succeed are qualities that set her apart as a leader. Lisbeth’s impact extends far beyond her professional achievements. She is deeply invested in the well-being of her patients, their families, and the healthcare team. She approaches every challenge with compassion, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility.

Whether it’s in managing complex situations in the ER or mentoring her staff, Lisbeth consistently demonstrates her commitment to providing the highest level of care and support to everyone around her. She gives her all, all the time, and her passion for what she does is evident in every action she takes. It is this selfless dedication that makes Lisbeth not just a great leader, but an exceptional human being. She inspires those around her to strive for excellence and to always push the boundaries of what is possible. Lisbeth’s influence reaches far beyond her immediate team—her legacy is one of empowerment, mentorship, and growth. In closing, I wholeheartedly believe that Lisbeth Mosquera deserves to be recognized with the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. This award is a small token of appreciation for all that she does for her patients, her team, and the community. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and the growth of others is an inspiration, and I am proud to nominate.

I have been wanting to nominate Aly for a long time. Aly has grown into an incredible leader. She comes to work with a positive, infectious attitude. She manages to get everyone in a positive mood. She is the heart and soul of 3 North. She manages to multitask all the while supporting the team on 3 North. She is able to juggle multiple things at one time such as following up with staff, patients, parents. She is able to manage the satellite when it’s open. She has a special way of empowering staff but also telling you how it is and what needs to get done. She is great at de-escalating issues or problems that arise with patients and parents. She has a special bond with our chronic patients. They feel listened too and supported. She listens to their concerns and acts on the issues and follows up. She is great at giving me the heads up on issues before it gets out of control. We work together with families and patients to create a positive resolution. She creates an environment around you whether it is a staff nurse, resident, attending and even float nurses that inspires you and makes you feel so supported. She is always ready to bring on any challenge whether small or large. It doesn’t matter to her. She is a constant source of strength, wisdom and is a lot of fun! The shift goes fast because she creates this fun and positive environment. You can take any challenges that come your way with Aly who has your back 200%. She is also active with professional governance and a chair for STEPP. She is actively assisting any staff whether on 3 north or any other unit to assist with STEPP helping the nurses to apply for STEPP and how to succeed with the STEPP program. Thank you Aly for going 200% in supporting everyone you come in contact with.

During my son's admission charge nurse Liz made an active effort to get ahead of every concern and to provide a solution in the most timely manner. One of the things that I noticed earlier on during our admission is that nurse Liz followed up on Travis’s care even when she went home just to ensure that the things that she had implemented and started were carried through and a solution was provided in a timely manner. At first, I felt bad about her working on her off time to get things handled but then I quickly realized that was just her nature and that’s just how big her heart is for her patients. I am so grateful to have been cared for by 5 Tower and charged nurse Liz. She is the epitome of what charge a nurse is and should be and I am so thankful that she cared so much to make sure that every aspect of my son's care was addressed, even things that weren’t in her control or that weren’t her responsibility, I still feel that she went above and beyond to get things resolved, addressed and handled. She made some meaningful connections during this admission that I will forever remember. Charge nurses like you have to know how wonderful you are from a very active mother.

I say thank you for all that you do for not only my son but for all of your patients. You are very much appreciated. Your genuineness and sincere, shrewdness concern compassion empathy all those things are so greatly appreciated. Not everyone carries those values so I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the fact that you are one of the best charged nurses that I’ve ever had a privilege to work with. Please don’t ever change. There are some critical patients that need you and appreciate all your hard work. Travis and I say THANK YOU!

I am delighted to nominate Lumari for the prestigious Daisy Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the community and the profession of nursing. She is an indispensable asset to the team at West Kendall and NCH. Her deep breadth of knowledge and clinical expertise resulting in her demonstration of confidence and compassion in all she does, is founded in her start in this organization in 2011. Lumari is currently the senior Nurse Supervisor within the Urgent Care System. Over the course of her tenure with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Lumari has shined for her trustworthiness, compassionate communication as a loving and tender professional, and is acknowledged daily by patients, families, and the clinical team she serves as the role model of pediatric nursing.

Confidence is innate for Lumari whether she is conducting triage activities welcoming a patient and family to the center for urgent medical or psychological care, starting IVs, drawing labs, or leading the daily interdisciplinary shift huddle. No matter the audience or need, she exudes compassion by listening attentively and offering help and guidance in all interactions. Because of these qualities, the patient engagement at West Kendall UCC where she is the Nurse Supervisor, surpasses expectations. Lumari identifies an opportunity to drive standards even higher and coach and coordinate improvement steps. Her years of experience, knowledge and confidence makes this drive for improvement realized in a natural and confident manner. As an example of her impact at the West Kendall Outpatient Center, where both Urgent Care and MRI sedation services are offered with much of the workspace shared, Lumari single-handedly recruits nurses to cross train among these departments. This strategy aids in a well-integrated team of capable nurses able to support either of the two service lines. She identifies nurses for cross training and she is also a well-sought-out mentor for novice nurses and nurses wishing to explore leadership roles.

Patient engagement is at the forefront of her practice as she goes beyond the expected to ensure that patients and families feel heard, understood, and involved in their care decisions. Such as her successful innovative coaching of standardized scripting in the triage arena to enhance patient education and communication, resulting in higher levels of patient satisfaction and improved overall experience. Incorporating the “Hora Loca” customer service experience was the highlight of 2023. By trying to replace a negative experience for the patient such as IM, IV’s, etc., with a positive experience during discharge, her goal lessened fear creating a more pleasurable experience for the child. Incorporating the “Hora Loca”, she has consistently demonstrated her dedication to creating a vibrant and support care environment. Moreover, Lumari leads by example in embracing a patient-centered approach, always putting the well-being and comfort of patients at the forefront of decision-making.

Lumari is an APRN by certification and education thus she is an expert at utilizing evidence-based practice to ensure the best patient outcome. Her dedication to creating a compassionate and supportive environment is evident in the positive feedback received from both patients and staff. Working with the inter-professional team and maintaining a strong relationship is essential in her role and she achieves this effortlessly. Furthermore, in supporting patient care, Lumari is recognized as the lead-clinical nurse on duty being well-respected and received by the MDs as she approaches them to keep them appraised of patient results, concerns, and ongoing assessments. She takes the time with MDs and APRNs seeking to keep everyone up to date and informed. Her empathy and compassion shows when she communicates the plan of care with our patients and families; providing the most compassionate understanding of the situation supporting an amazing customer experience.

One of Mio’s remarkable achievements is her initiative in establishing and nurturing an employee recognition program within our hospital. Her emphasis on rolling this program out was an amazing way to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our healthcare professionals has significantly boosted morale and created a culture of appreciation. Mio contributed and took the lead on this project to ensure that every member of the healthcare team feels valued and recognized for their contributions. This is a big thank you for this amazing program and how appreciative everyone is for contributing to this recognition platform. In addition to her role as a leader, Mio consistently excels in her day-to-day responsibilities. Her organizational skills, comforting approach, and ability to handle situations make her an invaluable asset to our hospital. leads by example, inspiring her team to deliver exceptional patient care and uphold the highest standards in their respective units. Thank you again Mio for everything you do.

​I was recently floated to 5 Tower. One of my patients was aggressive. This was a very complex and sensitive situation. The patient's mother was fatigued and I felt she needed to break away from the situation. Oldine was involved in the management of this case from the beginning of the shift. She even provided a 1:1 so the mother could step away. She listened to me and to the mom. She made me laugh therefore reducing my stress. She made herself available and didn’t stop smiling. She was truly supportive. At the end of the shift, I was physically tired, but thanks to Oldine, I did not leave emotionally tired. All day long, she helped relieve the stress of my day. She helped the patient's mom, the patient, the nurse and even helped the doctors managing this case. Overall, she made me feel she was with me every step of the day. I nominate Oldine for a Daisy award for her compassion, empathy and patient advocacy. Thank you, Oldine for making this difficult day a much better day. You deserve a field of daisies.

Eric is one of the most professional managers I’ve ever worked with. He listens to you no matter what and always follows through. He is a great asset to NCH his work ethic promotes retention, a safe environment for the employees he manages. He is the best nurse leader ever! He supports his teams while leading us to greatness everyday!

​Cristina is thoughtful, compassionate, and a great example of what a leader should be. She is someone who has the ability to keep a professional boundary, while being empathetic and relatable. Cristina is always willing to help the unit whenever we are in need, whether it is something as simple as starting a discharge or as complex as helping in the interventions for a decompensating patient. She is someone who puts a significant amount of effort into boosting morale on the unit with things as simple as starting conversations, bringing snacks to the unit, checking in with the nurses, keeping her office door open, and ensuring that she is always accessible to the staff. We believe she is deserving of this award because of her dedication towards her staff, patients, and their families.

Suzy is a leader who possesses an amazing amount of organizational courage and clinical knowledge. She is constantly delivering on her promises and has gained the respect, admiration and loyalty of her entire team.  She is open, transparent and logical in her problem-solving methods and strives to do what is necessary for the organization and patients we serve. She has spearheaded numerous projects with enormous success and truly has the "Midas touch"- making everything she does turn GOLD! We could not be more grateful to her for the "mom talks" that get us through times when we feel overwhelmed. She is always ready to help a peer and colleague even when she already has an overflowing plate. Thanks for all you do... it does not go unnoticed, and we appreciate everything you do.

Being a leader is more than a title and a role. It is not forgetting how you felt on your very first day on the job and taking people under your wings and showing them, that they too will one day be able to fly. Staying humble, being consistent and fair, and looking at the glass half-full at all times may not be an easy task but the leader I will be writing about encompasses qualities that are nothing short of admirable. Greeting you with a gentle smile no matter the chaos that may be ensuing in the background and keeping calm while navigating uncharted waters, this individual has been able to lead his team not only during the good times, but most importantly during the turmoil as well. Being a leader, is not about the title, it is about what you do with the title for the better. It is being the example and being physically part of the team and being present to round with staff and patients and families, but also taking a team and opening a team or being charge nurse when his staff needs him.

A mentor to many, he has helped inspire and shape nurses both new and seasoned. Always having an open door policy and being an active listener, he goes out of his way to build rapport with his team. He checks in on the staff and often remembers the smallest details of each individual. I witnessed on one occasion when this leader heard after an orientation follow up that one of the horizon nurses was having a challenge successfully completing a finger stick for a glucose check and iStat blood collection. He did not hesitate to reach out to the employee and show them step-by-step exactly how to do it and even offer some words of wisdom and tricks to be able to accomplish this on the first try. He then had a conversation with the employee and paired her with a buddy that gone through something similar, and to this day, I have seen the nurse continuously express her gratitude for his actions. This however, is a common occurrence for this leader, as he truly believes in people and makes sure they know he is in their corner.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought upon many changes and many uncertainties to say the least. Quick to adjust his sails, this leader took control of the situation and steered his team through one of the most challenging times in the history of the department. The unknowns were more than the knowns. The department he leads is often referred to as the “front-door” and the volume and series of events that ensued were very unpredictable. As if the pandemic was not chaotic enough, at one point he was the only manager leading and supporting one of the biggest units with the most staff members. Paving the way, he supported his team and helped nurture and build the new manager he mentored. During a very busy surge in late December of 2022, the new manager and him had been taking turns working 12 hour shifts on the floor and on one night, he showed up at 3:30 am to relieve the new manager. He does not hesitate to jump in when his team needs him, but this leader not only shows up for his team but he also ensures patients are receiving amazing patient care by directly impacting and interacting with patients and families. Fast-forward to this morning when this leader stood up from his desk after receiving a call from a patient’s mother he had helped just last weekend when she called him asking for help. The patient had been an ED patient last week and had to return to an outpatient office this morning. When the patient was here last week, the leader had provided the mom with his phone number and had offered his help should they ever need to return to the ED. To provide some background and without going into too much details, the mother had brought in her son due to a toothache. However, the patient is nonverbal and has a difficult time expressing his pain and needs. During his initial visit, the patient was very anxious and visibly in pain. With all the patience in the world, this leader was able to help the family and place them in a safer room for the patient so he wouldn’t hurt himself and would be able to receive the care he needed. It didn’t however end there, this morning like I mentioned, the leader went to the parking lot and met up with the mom and the patient and personally escorted them to their destination. He managed to help keep the patient calm and was able to give the outpatient office a heads-up and walk the mom through what she may expect and reassure her she was in good hands before leaving.

Overall, the nurse leader I am referring too, deserves a Daisy Nomination not only for the above mentioned specifications but for being more than a leader. Peter Kevin Cruz is our ROCK in the Emergency Department he meets all the demands expected of a leader which include but aren’t limited to “provide a haven of safety for staff, both physically and emotionally, he ensures standards of quality patient care are maintained, ensure nurses have access to the technology and equipment they need – and the information, manage human and financial resources across staffing, supplies and more. He drives team development, resiliency, and competency, ensuring their team members are meaningful recognized for the work they do for patients and families and lastly he provides a setting where compassion is valued, and staff, in turn, treat patients and their families with deep humanity.”

- Lisbeth Mosquera, BSN, RN, ED Manager

"Kristen is an extraordinary educational specialist on 6T! She is always going out of her way to share her knowledge and any new educational resources that she finds. She is compassionate and dedicated to her job. She is intentional about coming in early or leaving late to make sure nightshift is also up to date with the best practices. Kristen is a support to the nursing staff in more ways than just with education.

Kristen lends a helping hand with call lights and in patient rooms with tasks whenever needed. She always leaves her door open allowing for those that want to ask questions or need support. She is concerned not only with all these things, but also in bringing unity among our staff. She is positive and always sees the “bright side” of things, shining a light on new perspectives! I am honored to work alongside Kristen!"

-  Valerie Nieves