After a few days in the hospital, I told my daughter that all of my nurses were good, but Courtney stood out as being especially compassionate, authentic, and thorough. She went out of her way to keep me feeling comfortable and cared for. My daughter, also a nurse, suggested that I nominate her for a Daisy Award. So, here it is: I nominate Courtney for a PIH Whittier Daisy Award! I sincerely hope my ability to express my heart in this letter captures the essence of Courtney's heart as a nurse. I so want my words to do her justice.

The last place I expected to be was in the hospital on a Friday night! On the other hand, Courtney, my night-time nurse, knew her weekend was going to be a back-to-back night shift in the observation department. Not a fun-filled weekend for most young adults. Still, she greeted me with a warm smile and was off and running to help her patients get a good night's rest. When she brought me my bedtime pills, I questioned a pill, thinking there had been a mistake. In order to reassure me, she looked into it, rather than chalking it off as doctor's orders. After completing her routine duties with her patients on the floor, she came in to check on me to see if there was anything else I needed. It seemed she intuitively knew that what I needed was a little conversation, so we shared a few stories about our experiences in the hospital. I was moved by her compassion and authenticity in sharing her personal experiences as a patient, rather than as a nurse.

The next morning, we said our warm goodbyes, as I expected to be discharged that day. It turns out I was still there that night for further testing, so Courtney was my nurse once again. I could tell she was a bit tired, and I knew she probably didn't get enough sleep because she has a toddler at home. She told me the upside of working nights is that she gets to spend time with her son during the day. I told her I felt a bit grubby, so she offered to order a shower for me. She fixed a part of my hospital gown that was bothering me, gave me my morning pills, and once again we shared a heart-to-heart conversation. I can’t express how much a few minutes of genuine conversation lifted my spirits. Courtney reminded me of my own daughter, who is also a nurse, and I could see her dedication to her work and family. I also know that working the night shift is physically grueling and often goes underappreciated.

I admire Courtney for her life choices, as I know there are easier ways to make a living with a young family. She could have chosen a more glamorous career, but I am so grateful she followed her calling to become a nurse. When her shift was over, Courtney gave me a warm touch on my hand and a hug, and I was glad our lives had crossed paths. I knew I wanted to do a little something extra for Courtney, like she had done for me, so nominating her for a DAISY Award seemed the perfect opportunity.