Michelle Zhao’s, BSN, RN, Staff Nurse IV, Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU), interest in hearing amplifiers began at home. Traditional hearing aids had offered little relief for her mother’s profound hearing loss, leaving family communication strained. When Zhao introduced a hearing amplifier, her mother was able to hear clearly for the first time in years. Encouraged by this success, Zhao tried the device with her stepfather, whose hearing loss was even more severe. For the first time in over a decade, they were able to have a spoken conversation. These experiences revealed the transformative potential of hearing amplifiers and inspired Michelle to explore their use in health care settings.

Recognizing that improved hearing enables patients to participate more actively in their care, communicate needs, and maintain independence, Zhao pursued a formal evidence-based practice project. She noticed a flyer announcing DAISY grants for nursing research and realized that implementing a hearing amplifier initiative in the perioperative setting would be an ideal project, especially since no structured workflow currently exists to support patients with hearing loss.

With management’s full support, Zhao partnered with an experienced mentor and a geriatric clinical nurse specialist. She submitted an intention application to DAISY, then completed the full grant proposal with a team of nurses.

Six weeks after submission, the DAISY Foundation review board announced its approval. The process was extensive and required considerable effort, but Zhao found it invaluable. Beyond the grant approval, the initiative represents a meaningful step toward improving patient care by ensuring that individuals with hearing loss can engage fully in their perioperative experience.