Bethany C Simms
April 2026
Bethany C
Simms
,
RN
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital
Spokane
,
WA
United States
Bethany’s clinical competence was evident, but what truly set her apart was her kindness, emotional awareness, and ability to meet us exactly where we were.
I am honored to recognize Bethany for the extraordinary compassionate care she showed our family during one of the most painful moments of our lives.
Last week, my wife and family made the heartbreaking decision to place her brother on comfort care after a 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer. We spent more than 30 hours at his bedside at Providence Sacred Heart.
After he was moved to a private room, Bethany became our nurse. Although my brother-in-law had not previously been under her care, she treated him-and us-as if she had known us for months. She tended not only to his physical comfort, but also to the emotional weight our family was carrying. In a time filled with grief, uncertainty, and exhaustion, her presence brought steadiness and peace.
It was well past midnight as my wife and I sat alone with my brother-in-law in the room. Bethany came in to check on him and then gently checked on us.
For the first time all day, we experienced something that felt almost normal. She spoke with us-not just as a nurse, but as a compassionate human being. For that short while, we felt transported worlds away from the hospital room. Effortlessly personable, she made us laugh while still offering thoughtful, professional guidance about what we were going through. In a room that felt unbearably heavy, she created a moment of lightness we will never forget.
As she was leaving, she asked if we needed anything and even offered us an ice cream sandwich, joking, "Are you sure? Is it Neapolitan?!" That simple gesture brought more unexpected laughter and relief in a moment we desperately needed it.
Bethany’s clinical competence was evident, but what truly set her apart was her kindness, emotional awareness, and ability to meet us exactly where we were. She reminded us that even in the darkest circumstances, compassion can shine brightly.
Our family will never forget the care she provided. She exemplifies the spirit of the DAISY Award, and we are deeply grateful for the comfort she brought to us at a time when we needed it most.
Last week, my wife and family made the heartbreaking decision to place her brother on comfort care after a 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer. We spent more than 30 hours at his bedside at Providence Sacred Heart.
After he was moved to a private room, Bethany became our nurse. Although my brother-in-law had not previously been under her care, she treated him-and us-as if she had known us for months. She tended not only to his physical comfort, but also to the emotional weight our family was carrying. In a time filled with grief, uncertainty, and exhaustion, her presence brought steadiness and peace.
It was well past midnight as my wife and I sat alone with my brother-in-law in the room. Bethany came in to check on him and then gently checked on us.
For the first time all day, we experienced something that felt almost normal. She spoke with us-not just as a nurse, but as a compassionate human being. For that short while, we felt transported worlds away from the hospital room. Effortlessly personable, she made us laugh while still offering thoughtful, professional guidance about what we were going through. In a room that felt unbearably heavy, she created a moment of lightness we will never forget.
As she was leaving, she asked if we needed anything and even offered us an ice cream sandwich, joking, "Are you sure? Is it Neapolitan?!" That simple gesture brought more unexpected laughter and relief in a moment we desperately needed it.
Bethany’s clinical competence was evident, but what truly set her apart was her kindness, emotional awareness, and ability to meet us exactly where we were. She reminded us that even in the darkest circumstances, compassion can shine brightly.
Our family will never forget the care she provided. She exemplifies the spirit of the DAISY Award, and we are deeply grateful for the comfort she brought to us at a time when we needed it most.