It is with great pleasure that I write to you today to nominate Elena Volkov, RN, for the DAISY Award. Elena demonstrates all the characteristics of a seasoned and well-rounded professional nurse in home care. She possesses qualities that every nurse should strive to retain, including unending compassion, well-refined skills, a knack for innovation, and attention to detail. Elena is an exceptional role model, patient advocate, and change agent. She routinely makes herself available to mentor new nurses and patiently provides new nurses and students with guidance and supervised clinical experiences. Elena has maintained certifications in wound and ostomy care, and she often provides guidance to her peers in these areas to support the consistent implementation of evidence-based practice. Elena is admired by her co-workers and also very often requested by patients and their families for case management in subsequent care episodes. One patient’s family member wrote in to say, “Dad loved you and looked forward to each visit. You should be so proud of the compassionate care you provide. It is so very easy for all of us to see that what you do for people is so much more than a job to you. I will never be able to express my gratitude for the comfort you also give the family members of those you care for. You are an angel disguised as a healthcare worker. We will forever remember everything you did for Dad!” Another patient’s spouse reported to the manager that she wanted all to know about the ‘terrific and exemplary’ care provided by RN Elena. They stated that Elena took her time to explain things so she could learn to care for her husband under the new circumstances, and she feels that she is one of the most excellent clinicians around. She couldn’t thank the agency enough for sending such a wonderful and knowledgeable nurse. Elena works so diligently to provide the patients in our communities with all-around quality services, and her unwavering commitment to service excellence is truly inspiring. Nurse Elena Volkov is abundantly deserving of the DAISY Award - I am so grateful to have her on my team, and I firmly believe she has earned this distinguished honor.