Kirsten Reyes receives a DAISY for her work with patients and families in the Riley Allergy and Immunology Clinic.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Kirsten Reyes was eating lunch when her supervisor asked her to join an impromptu meeting recently. Reyes put down her pasta and walked into the room, where she felt everyone’s eyes on her.
“I thought it was because I was late,” said the nurse, who turned her attention to the person speaking glowingly about a team member who had gone above and beyond for a patient’s family.
Though there was no DAISY banner in the background, she quickly realized they were gathered to celebrate a winner in the Riley Children’s Health Allergy and Immunology Clinic, where she has worked for the past year.
She just had no idea it was her.
“I was nodding my head, thinking she sounds great whoever she is,” Reyes said. “Then they said my name, and I’m sure my jaw dropped.”
It was Dr. Isaiah Ingram who nominated Reyes on behalf of a patient’s grandmother who was grateful for the time the nurse took to walk her through a complicated situation with her grandson.
“She said this nurse made them feel like they were the only patient they had to take care of that day and that she made it her goal to fix every problem they had,” Dr. Ingram said in his nomination letter.
“She felt so comforted by this nurse and felt supported to know that someone like her would take the time to care for them the way that she did, give recommendations on how to proceed with his medical therapies, and also accommodate proper documentation for all of the legal proceedings affecting the family,” he continued.
“Kirsten's ability to navigate both medically and socially complex dynamics and provide recommendations to this patient and his family are the reasons I believe she is more than deserving of a DAISY award.”
Reyes said that for her, it’s all about taking care of people. That is why she went into nursing.
“I always knew I wanted a career where you get to care for people, and I love science,” she said. “I’m Filipino, and nursing is huge in our culture.”
She moved with her family to Indiana from the Philippines when she was 2, spending the first 10 years or so in Bloomington before relocating to the greater Indianapolis area and graduating from Avon High School.
She earned her first degree in human biology at IU Bloomington, then decided to enter the accelerated bachelor’s degree program in nursing at IUPUI.
Reyes worked as a tech on 3 West for a year, then as a nurse on the same unit for another year, working nights. She transitioned to the Allergy Clinic in the Riley Outpatient Center a year ago but still picks up occasional shifts in the Heart Center on 3W.
Outside work, she counts her dog, Sosa, as her best friend. Weekends find the two of them visiting different parks and hiking at Eagle Creek when she’s not traveling or hanging out with family and other close friends.
While still young in her nursing career, she is grateful for the support she has had along the way.
“I want to say thank you to the physician who nominated me and to my team in the Riley allergy clinic. I would not be the nurse he describes in this letter if it was not for them. I also want to thank my Heart Center family because they really built my foundation as a nurse.”
Nominate a nurse who exemplifies excellent clinical skills and compassionate care here.
Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
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