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"Her one-of-a-kind sense of humor and infectious energy lift the spirits of patients and colleagues alike." 

The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center nurses each month with a DAISY Award.

Associate Chief Nursing Officer Rachel Nauman, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, and DAISY Award Committee Vice Chair Amelia McNabb, BSN, RN, CRRN, surprised Caitlin Castillo, BSN, RN, with a DAISY Award.

Kaitlyn Williams, BSN, RN, OCN, submitted the nomination:

"After years of working alongside Caitlin Castillo, I can say without hesitation that she's the nurse every patient deserves to have in their corner!

"Caitlin does far more than just check the boxes needed to get a patient through the Infusion Procedural enter. She charms her patients with her fun personality, yet also holds a deep clinical knowledge. She is not afraid to advocate for her patients despite barriers to care.

Two particular instances in one week prompted me to write this nomination:

Caitlin cared for a patient who is challenging to work with. The patient was on isolation for COVID, and even prior to arrival, had been threatening to refuse to comply with isolation procedures. As charge nurse, I had even reached out to the team to see if we needed to delay the patient’s appointment to a later date if they were not going to comply.

"After being escorted to a room by a care coordinator, the patient immediately told Caitlin, 'Don’t talk to me.' Rather than reciprocating the patient’s negative energy, Caitlin was determined to provide the best care for the patient. She built rapport over the course of the several hours long appointment, gaining the patient’s trust. Caitlin persistently advocated for the patient’s need for IV pain medication. Thanks to Caitlin, the patient agreed to be re-tested for COVID to potentially come off isolation, and received the needed platelets, chemotherapy, and pain medication — an outcome that may not have happened if the patient did not have such a determined, compassionate nurse in her corner!

"Later in the same week, Caitlin cared for a patient who had a significant reaction to a first-time treatment. As the situation escalated and it became clear the patient would need to be transferred to the Emergency Department, Caitlin remained a steady, calming presence — communicating clearly with the patient and their spouse every step of the way so they never felt in the dark. Even in the middle of managing a serious and fast-moving situation, Caitlin noticed a coworker had been caught in some friction, and took the time afterward to check in — making sure the coworker felt seen, appreciated, and supported.

"Beyond her clinical excellence, Caitlin is also simply a delight to work alongside! Her one-of-a-kind sense of humor and infectious energy lift the spirits of patients and colleagues alike. She goes out of her way to bring our team together — planning events both on and off the unit — and her presence makes our unit a place people genuinely enjoy coming to work!"

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"DAISY" stands for "Diseases Attacking the Immune System." The DAISY Award was established by The DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of only 33 of an autoimmune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring, and compassion of his nurses — so they created this national award to thank nurses everywhere.

At UVA Health University Medical Center — patients or their families, visitors, and team members may submit a DAISY Award nomination.