To say that Cassie exemplifies our mission and core values is an understatement. Cassie is in tune with the needs of her patients and goes to great lengths to meet those needs.

Cassie was taking care of one of our patients with a longer length of stay, someone very difficult to place. He has had multiple code grays, watched by security, and even tried to escape, to which Cassie followed the patient and ultimately safely guided him back to his room.

Through a conversation with the patient, Cassie found out that the patient played the guitar. She began to talk with the patient and realized this might be a way to help this patient be at peace with his current environment/situation.

Cassie called her father to meet her in the front circle to bring a guitar in for the patient. The patient tuned the guitar and began to play. He was emotional. We were all emotional. Cassie played songs familiar to the patient on her phone, and without skipping a beat, the patient knew every song played and could play the song from memory. It was the most relaxed we have seen the patient throughout his 52 days on the unit. Everyone on the unit that day was moved, some to tears. This was nursing exemplified through Cassie's willingness to dig a little deeper, have a little bit more patience, and to understand there is still a man inside this person who can share his God-given talent with all of us.

This is not the first time Cassie has intervened to go above and beyond for a patient. After hearing one of our patients had a 13-year-old daughter at home by herself, Cassie connected with the daughter to Door Dash food to make sure the daughter had something to eat. We then contacted social work to make sure the daughter was safe.

Cassie is kind and compassionate. She can be quiet, but I am convinced it's because she is observing. She is watching people, her patients, seeing needs and filling them. She is nothing short of an excellent nurse, dedicated to honoring the sacred in everyone who surrounds her.