My hospitalization lasted 9 days and throughout that time, I read a flyer on the wall many times. It said: Act, Listen, Do. Throughout my stay, I was blessed to be cared for by Nurse Laura, who treated me with dignity, respect, compassion, professionalism, integrity, critical thinking, and analysis of my situation EVERY SINGLE TIME that she was my nurse. She communicated her care, supported me, and advocated for me like no other. In fact, my best days of healing occurred when she was my nurse. I also felt safe, and she made my comfort a priority. An illness doesn’t discriminate based on your accomplishments, triumphs, or your past traumas. You could be a world leader, a mother, a bereaved parent/grandmother, a selfless caregiver, a paramedic, a child/adult sexual assault survivor, a Christian, a millionaire, and you can be fiercely loved and protected by your own family, but a Nurse doesn’t always know those things about you, and I am all the above except for two. These things do not matter when a nurse knows how to provide unbiased, exemplary patient care especially when it is within the context of what your establishment wants for their patients. This is why I am nominating Laura for the DAISY Award.

How do you thank someone of this caliber? Besides keeping them in prayer, I decided the best way to thank her is to continue my journey to better health and wellness (as I had been struggling) and to empower others to do the same. Because of this experience, I will continue to hold my head up, move forward, and never forget the transformative time I spent at Mercy One. I will return to the love of my family (who absolutely cherishes me), and I will be a better person because of the care I received from Nurse Laura. She is the epitome of what MercyOne expects their Nurses to provide to all patients, and I am ever so thankful to have had her on my healthcare team, especially as I navigate a new journey to find balance once again. I now understand why God’s voice directed me to MercyOne because Nurse Laura not only helped make a difference for me but was also one of the brightest lights at a time when I needed it the most.

I encountered a variety of Nurses during my hospitalization, and it is with great honesty and respect that I submit this nomination for Laura, who is an extraordinary nurse working within your facility in the PCCU. I want you to know that her outstanding, ethical commitment to patient care is truly commendable.

Note: This is Laura's 2nd DAISY Award!