How Nurses Support Their Teammates

PerfectServe’s fifth annual Nurses of Note awards program honors exceptional nurses who exemplify dedication, leadership, and compassion in their work. Chosen from a large pool of nominees, these individuals regularly go above and beyond the call of duty, making a meaningful impact on patients and their communities every day. 

This year, grand prize winners were chosen in four new award categories: Innovative Technology Utilization, Excellence in Nursing Leadership, Exceptional Team Support, and Patient-Centered Care Excellence. Read the full list of winners here.

Daniella Radunovic, RN | Exceptional Team
Support Award

Introducing Daniella Radunovic, PerfectServe’s very first Exceptional Team Support Award winner! Daniella is a pediatric registered nurse and has been with Loyola Medicine in Westmont, Illinois, for 7 years. 

Like many nurses, Daniella knew from a young age she wanted to work with children. She thought about going into teaching but ultimately landed on nursing. She was partly inspired by the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy,” and having nurses in her family nudged her in that direction as well. 

Daniella describes herself as a friendly person who “loves to talk,” a trait that shines through in her relationships with patients and fellow nurses. Her way with words is a big reason she’s a 2025 Nurse of Note!

Stepping Up for a Fellow Nurse 

One of the things Daniella loves about nursing is the friendships she’s developed with other nurses. Recently, one of her coworkers experienced a tragic personal loss while Daniella was away on vacation. She received a distressing call from this coworker and learned that their partner—a provider at the same hospital—was involved in a fatal accident. Daniella immediately took steps to make sure her coworker was in a safe environment, mobilizing the rest of their unit to be with her even though Daniella wasn’t there in person.  

“I love the fact that my coworkers were able to be there for her,” Daniella said. “Some of the people on our team are not as close with her, but in honor of not being alone in that type of vulnerable situation, I asked if they could please be with her.”  

When Daniella returned from vacation, she made it a point to spend a lot of time with her coworker, helping to clean out the partner’s office and even helping her pack up her home. Going above and beyond like this comes naturally to Daniella, who believes in forming deep connections with teammates outside of work. 

“Being a bedside nurse and being in the hospital for 12 hours, you get to know your coworkers more than anything really,” Daniella said. “I love to talk to everybody. I love to get to know about everybody’s life, and then I will follow up if it’s something that’s not going very well. It was really nice just to be there for each other.”

Teamwork in Nursing

Daniella’s ability to step up and support her coworker is deeply rooted in her philosophy that nursing is not a one-person job—it requires teamwork. She believes that supporting other nurses can have a profound impact, describing her team members as each other’s helpers who share the same responsibilities and passions. 

“You need to be able to help each other in [patient] coordination [to make] sure there’s no errors,” she said. “It leads to a lot less burnout. No matter what is going on in the unit, at least we know we have each other. It’s just kind of awesome to have that backup of … you’re not alone.” 

“When you’re able to be there for [your fellow nurses] and talk about your personal lives outside of work, it makes them feel like they’re coming into work as a safe zone.”

Nurses Making a Difference

Outside of supporting her coworkers, the most rewarding part of her job is helping children and families navigate the “most vulnerable positions in their lives.” She strives to be a positive light, whether it’s by   putting on a movie or providing toys for her patients. 

“I try to bring humor,” she said. “I try to bring something to the table and to my shifts that makes them a little bit happier. Children oftentimes can’t explain when they’re not feeling good versus when they are.” 

As a peds nurse, Daniella is especially passionate about advocating for her patients, especially when it comes to discussing their comfort levels with doctors. One of the main ways Daniella feels appreciated for the work she does is by hearing patients and their families say “thank you” at the end of a shift. To her, it’s one of the best rewards, but she thinks the work of nurses too often goes unseen and is underappreciated. She says nurses aren’t just caregivers—they’re “leaders, educators, coaches, and mentors.” 

Inspiring New Nurses

Daniella has heard from many teen patients that they’re inspired to become nurses after receiving care from her and her team. This inspired her to become a facilitator for Loyola Health System’s transition to practice program, where she mentors new nurses. She particularly enjoys discussing the challenges new nurses are facing and sharing insights based on her experience. If it’s not already obvious, befriending and supporting nurses all over the hospital comes naturally to Daniella! 

She’s also passionate about encouraging nurses not to feel stuck in their careers. Daniella says a career in nursing opens up a lot of different ways to make an impact in healthcare, even if a nurse’s initial role isn’t the right fit. Her advice is to try new things, work hard, and to make friendships with other nurses and care staff. You never know where it might take you!

Thank You

Daniella is the embodiment of empathy, dedication, and unparalleled teamwork, and she appears to rewrite the book on being a supportive teammate every day. Her commitment to her coworker during a tragic event is just one example of how passionate Daniella is about taking good care of the people around her. For these reasons and many more, we’re proud to call Daniella the winner of the 2025 Exceptional Team Support Award!

Questions

Learn a little more about Daniella’s life as a nurse below!

What advice would you give to your younger self as a nurse?  

I would tell my younger self not to mask your feelings. I used to always say, “it’s fine. It was a hard day, but it’s fine.” Now I can sit with my feelings and look back on the day and acknowledge when days are hard.  

When I was new, especially within the first year, I would beat myself up if I couldn’t get something right, like an IV. I was putting too much pressure on myself. You cannot be the best without having experience and without knowing what the next step should be.  

Why is nurse recognition so important?   

I think the work that a nurse does sometimes [goes unseen], other than by the patient and their family. It’s important to know nurses are so necessary for patient care. Once nurses start feeling burned out, I think they say “Oh, I’m just a nurse” to their patients and families. But it’s not “just a nurse.” You do so much more. Recognition helps us know that! 

What’s one of the best parts of being a nurse? 

The great thing about nursing is you’re always learning. It’s not like you have a book that’s going to teach you to do the job. You have to continue learning every day because every patient who comes into the hospital can have a completely different diagnosis and may need completely different treatments than the patient you had before. I love that I learn something new every day. 

What do you do to relax after a long day? 

I love to watch TV and just relax! I also grab my dog and go for a long walk, and sometimes tell him about my day. I also love to travel, so if I have a hard shift but I know I have PTO coming up, that really helps me relax.  

 How to Support Nurse Teams 

Nurses like Daniella make it their business to support their peers and boost nurse satisfaction, but nurses need more than friendship. One study found that, in a four-hour window, nurses spent just 32 minutes with patients, but 51 minutes coordinating care. Unfortunately, the technology at their disposal—which usually includes a bunch of different point solutions—often exacerbates this divide even though it’s supposed to help.  

To support nurse teams, consider empowering your nurses with tech that:  

• Reduces communication cycle times 
• Integrates critical alerts and alarms
• Simplifies patient engagement
• Allows them to stay engaged when they’re on the move