When you think about the characteristics that make up a nurse, you think of Margaret "Peggy" MacKay. Peggy has given 33 years to the nursing profession, impacting many patients, families, and co-workers. Peggy is an advocate. She advocates for her patients, their families, her teammates, and herself. She knows what each person deserves and what is right and fights for it. We have seen her in an emergent situation where a stressed family didn't feel heard and she listened to their concerns, voiced concerns on their behalf, worked to get them answers, and didn't let up until the situation was settled. We have seen families reach their breaking point and voice their frustrations with a situation while simultaneously singing Peggy's praises for all of her work and care.

It doesn't matter what needs to be done; she is by your side to help you get what you need. She doesn't shy away from tough topics and sticks up for everyone without hesitation. Peggy brings a level of professionalism to the nursing world! She respects the role of a nurse and carries this title with such immense pride. She comes in ready to learn, impact others, and make everyone better in any and every way she can. She holds herself to a very high standard and won't accept anything less from herself or others. She knows what we are all capable of, as individuals and as a population of nurses - she pushes for this and strives for it daily. She exemplifies exactly what it means to go above and beyond and refuses to settle for less than what she knows we can do. She only gives an effort that she can always be proud of.

Peggy is continually learning and growing. Despite many years of experience and reaching a point of near expertise in pediatrics, Peggy approaches every situation with a questioning attitude and eagerness to learn. Though she has her doctorate, and we jokingly refer to her as "Dr. Mackay" on a daily basis, she continually works to learn more, teach more, and improve more.

Peggy impacts nursing and healthcare from start to finish. Personally, I believe this is one of her most impressive accomplishments as a nurse. It's not uncommon for a nurse to have a story about a patient they impacted and think back on fondly, but it is rare to find a nurse who has impacted someone at every point in a career. Peggy was an instructor for UNCC for many years, teaching upcoming nurses in the classroom as well as the clinical setting. Many of her students have become nurses on our floor and always talk about how Peggy was such a meaningful instructor and made them the nurses they are today - they have flourished in their roles. She has worked to mentor nurses who are interested in completing unit projects to progress up the clinical ladder, attending graduate school, or pursuing any kind of new education at all. She performs a great deal of research on her own and brings anything she learns back to the team. She has been a part of several podium presentations for national organizations, completed higher-level research projects, and has many article publications. These accomplishments impact not only Atrium Health and Levine Children's, but the nursing population as a whole, nationwide. In addition to the nurses, she has a profound influence on the providers here at the hospital. The providers respect Peggy and approach her to ask her opinions and use her as a resource to provide exceptional care.

Lastly, Peggy is an exceptional friend. She is there with a shoulder to cry on and an open ear to listen. She will be honest with you, give you tough love, and rally behind you. She will also pray for you and celebrate you. Amazing accomplishments aside, this is what makes Peggy special. She doesn't just work as a nurse - she exemplifies and embodies what it truly means to be a nurse and lives her life with that mentality. There is a reason that she is one of the nurses that we all want to be "when we grow up." We are so lucky to have Peggy. She is a true DAISY Nurse!