Cynthia is so deserving of this DAISY Award because she exemplifies the best qualities of the nursing profession. She is competent, compassionate and skilled in administering the Nurse Family Partnership model- she understands the model's emphasis on "following the client's heart's desire". It is not the nurse telling or advising the client on parenting and health issues, it is taking the client's lead as to what she wants to learn more about. Cynthia works with the mother, baby and all of the other family members that surround this child's life. She offers support, education, coaching, and resources so that the mother can be the best parent she can be.
Nurses like Cynthia can reach a vulnerable family in ways that others can't. A nurse brings specialized healthcare knowledge and can spend time with her clients- Cynthia approaches her clients without value judgments or a personal agenda which establishes a strong bond of trust enabling her to stay in her client's life until her baby reaches the age of two. With Cynthia's experience in this model almost over two decades, she is also able to share her knowledge with colleagues, peers, medical residents, and nursing students to demonstrate how important home visitation programs are to new mothers. Cynthia is an outstanding role model and I am thrilled to nominate her for a DAISY Award.