Karen has a significant impact on patient care and is a wonderful mentor and support to her nursing team. She promotes a feeling of respect and inclusion to the new Nurses and PCTs, she makes them feel welcome, and she has a gentle but firm way of making suggestions that always prove to be right; She never puts anyone down, and her suggestions are always made with positive reinforcement. Karen demonstrates leadership each and every day. When our unit had a large number of COVID patients, Karen took them in her assignment. She meticulously took care of them without any complaints. All of her nursing tasks were impeccably done as well as her unit nurse leader duties. Karen makes sure all needs of our patients are addressed. Just recently one of our SCI patients was falling into a deep state of despair, he stated he wanted to die. Karen immediately reported this to his Doctor. In the meantime, she spoke with the patient to reassure him and calm him down. Even though English is not the patient’s first language, she used translation services to communicate with him and diffuse the situation. During her downtime on the shift, she would use the translator just to check in and talk with the patient to make sure he was okay and to make sure he knows she cares beyond the medical aspect of his care. Karen is truly committed to our Gaylord community. She goes above and beyond to educate patients and staff alike. She will not hesitate to stay late just to chat with patients and help them with their concerns, and will not hesitate to make sure her patients’ needs are met. This can include meeting a patient in therapy to give them their medications or even bringing them outside when they discharge to make sure they get into the car safely. Outside of work, Karen had been known to spend her days off knitting hats and donating them to those in need or stopping to assist someone who looks like they need a helping hand. Karen’s dedication to nursing and helping those around her goes beyond the doors of Gaylord and into those in the community around her. Karen is an expert in the care of spinal cord injury patients. She recognizes the need to not only care for their physical condition but also help them conquer the emotional challenges that come along with such a life-altering injury. Karen’s dedication and commitment to her patients help them learn how to regain independence as they re-enter the community. With Karen’s 17 years of SCI experience, we look to her as a role model and a mentor. For all these reasons and many more, Karen is truly deserving of the DAISY Award for nursing excellence.