May 2026 Honoree
Jackie Sheets, BSN, RN, OCN, Caritas Nurse®
We had a young patient on our unit receiving chemotherapy for a newly diagnosed cancer. This patient was in his early 20s and felt alone and isolated during his stay, as his family members were far away from the hospital and unable to visit him.
Around Christmas time, it was quite noticeable that the patient was more depressed, with a flat affect, not as communicative or expressive, and voiced to several nurses that he was disappointed to be in the hospital, away from his family, during Christmas.
I was assigned to take care of this patient, and upon entering the room, I noted several gifts neatly wrapped on his bedside table along with Christmas decorations in the room. The room had transformed into a Christmas-themed paradise with several gifts lining the table.
This patient, alone in his room and away from his family, experienced Christmas on the unit thanks to Jackie's extraordinary efforts that day. We opened the gifts together, and he received several snacks along with things that would make his hospital stay more pleasant. He went from a patient who was sad, with a flat affect, and not communicative, to excited, happy, and grateful because of the gifts he received.
He mentioned to me that he was also having a hard time eating with the chemotherapy, was nauseous, and had a poor appetite. Upon seeing those snacks, his eyes lit up, and he said he could not wait to enjoy the snacks.
I spoke with Jackie after and asked her what made her want to buy these gifts for the patient. She mentioned the compassion she felt for him; she mentioned that she was affected by the fact that he was alone and unable to celebrate Christmas with his family. She then, after her long shift, made a trip to Target, bought these gifts, neatly wrapped them, and delivered them to the hospital. This model encompasses all of Caritas' care processes and exemplifies the extraordinary, holistic care that we, as SHC nurses, are called to provide.
I nominated Jackie Sheets to receive a DAISY award because of her excellent and compassionate care for this young man, who spent his Christmas in the hospital but enjoyed the gifts and comforts from home.
Around Christmas time, it was quite noticeable that the patient was more depressed, with a flat affect, not as communicative or expressive, and voiced to several nurses that he was disappointed to be in the hospital, away from his family, during Christmas.
I was assigned to take care of this patient, and upon entering the room, I noted several gifts neatly wrapped on his bedside table along with Christmas decorations in the room. The room had transformed into a Christmas-themed paradise with several gifts lining the table.
This patient, alone in his room and away from his family, experienced Christmas on the unit thanks to Jackie's extraordinary efforts that day. We opened the gifts together, and he received several snacks along with things that would make his hospital stay more pleasant. He went from a patient who was sad, with a flat affect, and not communicative, to excited, happy, and grateful because of the gifts he received.
He mentioned to me that he was also having a hard time eating with the chemotherapy, was nauseous, and had a poor appetite. Upon seeing those snacks, his eyes lit up, and he said he could not wait to enjoy the snacks.
I spoke with Jackie after and asked her what made her want to buy these gifts for the patient. She mentioned the compassion she felt for him; she mentioned that she was affected by the fact that he was alone and unable to celebrate Christmas with his family. She then, after her long shift, made a trip to Target, bought these gifts, neatly wrapped them, and delivered them to the hospital. This model encompasses all of Caritas' care processes and exemplifies the extraordinary, holistic care that we, as SHC nurses, are called to provide.
I nominated Jackie Sheets to receive a DAISY award because of her excellent and compassionate care for this young man, who spent his Christmas in the hospital but enjoyed the gifts and comforts from home.
Thank you, Jackie, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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