When I started thinking about who would be a natural fit for the DAISY Award, Janet Nichols immediately came to mind. I taught her in 3 courses in our program and got to know her really well. She is the embodiment of providing compassionate care to patients and families. One thing about Janet really stood out to me and set her apart from her peers - she really seems to love the process of learning! She is the kind of student I love to teach; she was not afraid to ask for help or clarification, and she sat on the edge of her seat during class, listening, actively taking notes, participating in class discussions, and asking really good questions. She’s just delightful as a person and treats others with the utmost respect.

Personally, I was astounded by the level of genuine caring she demonstrated toward her professors and fellow classmates. When I taught her, my father was undergoing treatments for cancer, and she continued to reach out to me after the semester ended to ask about how he (and I) were doing. She can relate to and talk to anyone, which will make her a valuable nurse because she’ll get along well with colleagues and probably be able to win over even the most “challenging” patients. She is the kind of person I would 100% trust to care for my own children, and that is the highest recommendation I can give any student and is not something I take lightly.