He’s been an emergency department nurse for 25 years
Daniel Najera, B.S.N., R.N., has spent his entire 25-year nursing career in emergency departments, 20 of those as a charge nurse.
He’s compassionate, cool under pressure and willing to step in to help as needed at Texas Health Neighborhood Care & Wellness Burleson (part of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth), said Mandy Del Curto, B.S.N., R.N., CEN, nurse manager in the Emergency Department.
“Daniel has the ability to remain calm even when things are chaotic,” Del Curto said. “He can be found going the extra mile by spending more time with an anxious or upset patient or family member, or jumping in to assist someone in need. He is also used as a resource, with his strong skills and critical thinking capabilities. Daniel takes on several extra roles to help the department thrive and be successful. We are lucky to have him!”
Najera worked at Texas Health Fort Worth for five years, left the system briefly and then was at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth for 10 years. He’s been at Texas Health Neighborhood Care & Wellness Burleson for six years.
Here is more about Najera, in his own words:
What did you want to be as a kid, and how did you choose your career?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a pilot or a firefighter. I started as a volunteer firefighter/paramedic at Edgecliff Fire Department in 1995. Then I got a job as a patient care technician at Texas Health Fort Worth in the cardiac care unit. I started nursing school and transferred to the Emergency Department and stayed there after I graduated from nursing school in 1999.
What is your workday like?
I have been working nights my whole career. Usually, the beginning of my shift is pretty busy, since I start at 7 p.m. I get reports from the day shift charge nurse, and then our team works all night to provide the best possible care to our patients.
What is your favorite part of your job, and the biggest challenge?
The ED is a certain environment; it’s constantly changing and has ups and downs as far as the acuity of patients. It’s never boring, always interesting. One of my favorite parts is making people feel better and helping them during the crisis that brought them to the Emergency Department.
There are many challenges in the ED – every shift is different, and it’s a changing environment. Change can sometimes be challenging, but it’s very satisfying when we get it all figured out and have good outcomes.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I married the love of my life when I was 17 years old! We have been married for 42 years. We have three sons and 10 grandchildren.
How do you do your life’s best work at Texas Health?
I strive to keep the ED operating in a safe and efficient manner. I want to help my team be the best team possible and provide superior care for our patients.
