Emily is an extraordinary nurse who consistently exemplifies many characteristics, including empathy, compassion, patience, love, and authenticity, which make her worthy of The DAISY Award.

I've had the privilege of seeing Emily's compassionate care in action and hearing the genuine concern and care she has for her patients. When Emily talks about her patients, especially those who are particularly vulnerable, she makes eye contact and there is an urgency of devotion in her voice. Her eyes are soft as she shares her patient's struggles and what she's done to try and ease their pain. She is always accepting and encouraging of every patient and works hard to create and implement a specific care plan that meets their individual needs.

Emily is particularly good with complex social situations. The MBU population is comprised of primarily healthy moms and babies but for many, it's their first time in the hospital, having an IV, surgery, first time as a parent, and first time trying to feed their baby. For some, it can be difficult and very scary. Time and time again, I've listened to Emily tell me about a patient who was tearful, tired, and/or frustrated. Emily always finds a way to make time to sit with her patient and listen...she might not have the perfect words to help them through but the most amazing gift she seems to give is herself - the willingness to go above and beyond to provide a listening, empathetic ear. Emily knows she cannot change every situation, but she will do whatever she can in the moment to make the situation a little lighter and let her patient know someone cares and that someone is her nurse, Emily.

A recent situation prompted me to nominate Emily for The DAISY Award. Emily learned that her patient was very distraught because her cell phone died and she left the charger in her car. All of her contact numbers were in the phone and she was unable to reach her husband and her family who were long distance and she was I unable to call out long distance on a hospital line. She desperately wanted to reach her family and let them know the baby had come, where she was, and that she and baby were doing well!

Right away, Emily made it her mission to obtain a cell phone charger. All staff was paged to see if they had the correct cell phone charger, but no one did. Emily told me she was preparing to call the patient's mom directly from her own personal cell phone, when she located a cell phone charger on the Pediatric until, just down the hall from us. Emily so sweetly described the look on her patient's face, when she walked in dangling the charger and said, "Look what I Found!" The patient immediately became tearful and was so grateful.

Emily is will always go the extra mile to create the best patient experience possible. I received a call from another one of her patients after she had discharged home. The patient specifically called to tell me that Emily was her postpartum nurse on the MBU and that she was so amazing she just had to call back and make sure that "her boss" knew. She explained how Emily look more time than anyone else to help her with breast feeding and fill her every need; she further described how Emily made her feel extremely comfortable and genuinely cared for. She said because of Emily, she felt prepared to discharge home and care for her baby as a first-time mom.

As a Former DAISY Award winner myself, I know the awesome feeling of recognition and I want to pay it forward. Emily is intrinsically caring - she has maintained a thoughtful, kind and attentive nursing practice for years. I know, without a doubt that regardless of formal recognition, she will continue to do so; it's who she is.

She is beyond deserving and she is an excellent role model to other nurses. I believe public recognition of her practice will inspire others to emulate Emily's caring practice.