June 2026 Honoree
Darby Murabito, LPN
In my three years working as a Patient Safety Companion in behavioral health, I have come to learn that it takes a truly special nurse to thrive in this environment. Darby Murabito is one of those rare individuals, and a recent event perfectly demonstrated how she embodies our core values of Ownership, Respect, Compassion, and Excellence.
At 4:45 AM, already ten hours into her shift, Darby exemplified Ownership by stepping up to manage a highly sensitive situation. A developmentally delayed patient, easily twice her size, had unfortunately injured two staff members just hours prior. Knowing that a crowded room easily overstimulates this patient and causes further escalation, Darby took complete charge of their ongoing care. She courageously declined help from other staff and entered the room alone to protect the patient’s peace and keep them safe.
Over the next half-hour, Darby demonstrated profound Respect by assisting them with their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). To ensure they received the highest quality of care, she patiently helped them apply deodorant, changed their linens, brushed their hair, swapped out their scrubs, and changed their pull-up, all while at risk of physical harm. Throughout this entire interaction, she treated them with the exact same dignity that I would expect her to show her own family.
What truly sets Darby apart is her immense compassion and her ability to connect with anyone. Instead of keeping a fearful distance, she engaged them with warmth and playfulness. She taught them how to give a high-five, even pulling a "too slow" move on them. With anyone else, that might have caused an escalation, but because of the incredible rapport she has built with them, they thought it was the greatest thing ever! She gently guided them to practice their manners, asking them to say thank you for their clean room. Because of her calming presence, they responded with genuine gratitude, telling her, "Thank you for making my bed."
Darby’s actions this morning did more than just de-escalate a patient; they instantly relieved a massive amount of anxiety across our entire core. Achieving this level of Excellence at the end of an exhausting night shift is remarkable on its own. To do so knowing she was heading straight to class, only to return the next day for a 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM shift with the same positive attitude, is nothing short of inspiring.
It is blatantly obvious that Darby has a heart of gold and knows the perfect way to shine her kindness upon others, even under the most challenging circumstances. I truly cannot think of a better example of our core values in action. Darby Murabito is incredibly deserving of the DAISY Award.
At 4:45 AM, already ten hours into her shift, Darby exemplified Ownership by stepping up to manage a highly sensitive situation. A developmentally delayed patient, easily twice her size, had unfortunately injured two staff members just hours prior. Knowing that a crowded room easily overstimulates this patient and causes further escalation, Darby took complete charge of their ongoing care. She courageously declined help from other staff and entered the room alone to protect the patient’s peace and keep them safe.
Over the next half-hour, Darby demonstrated profound Respect by assisting them with their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). To ensure they received the highest quality of care, she patiently helped them apply deodorant, changed their linens, brushed their hair, swapped out their scrubs, and changed their pull-up, all while at risk of physical harm. Throughout this entire interaction, she treated them with the exact same dignity that I would expect her to show her own family.
What truly sets Darby apart is her immense compassion and her ability to connect with anyone. Instead of keeping a fearful distance, she engaged them with warmth and playfulness. She taught them how to give a high-five, even pulling a "too slow" move on them. With anyone else, that might have caused an escalation, but because of the incredible rapport she has built with them, they thought it was the greatest thing ever! She gently guided them to practice their manners, asking them to say thank you for their clean room. Because of her calming presence, they responded with genuine gratitude, telling her, "Thank you for making my bed."
Darby’s actions this morning did more than just de-escalate a patient; they instantly relieved a massive amount of anxiety across our entire core. Achieving this level of Excellence at the end of an exhausting night shift is remarkable on its own. To do so knowing she was heading straight to class, only to return the next day for a 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM shift with the same positive attitude, is nothing short of inspiring.
It is blatantly obvious that Darby has a heart of gold and knows the perfect way to shine her kindness upon others, even under the most challenging circumstances. I truly cannot think of a better example of our core values in action. Darby Murabito is incredibly deserving of the DAISY Award.
Thank you, Darby, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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