Marie Feliciano is such a caring nurse and an awesome team player. I don't know where to start because Marie does so much here at UTMB. Marie was frequently a Resource Nurse on the MedSurg units where she demonstrates her critical thinking. She functions as Charge nurse preceptor and is always willing to do whatever needs to be done. She was always willing to help and teach to improve patient care. Whenever we have contests she is always supporting her Cardiology team and demonstrating her amazing artistic abilities. From the Recycled Fashion show where she created a red carpet runway dress (which won) to pumpkins out of this world with very detailed carving and paintings. She always is involved in Rapid Responses and helping staff with difficult IVs and intervening in difficult situations. She is always friendly and has a positive attitude. She made skull caps for her co-workers during Covid, made special badge tags for her peers, and always goes above and beyond to make her patients their families, and her co-workers feel special.

Marie has worked here at UTMB for over 15 years. She volunteers to lead activities such as donations for the Luke Society- the sock and deodorant drive where their unit donated 78 pairs of socks 78 deodorants and $40.

The DAISY Award is for Extraordinary Nurses and that is what Marie is. When my mother passed away, Marie hand-painted a portrait of my Mom which was so beautiful and I will treasure it forever. It touched me for many reasons that she would be so thoughtful to give such a special gift that she took her personal time after working full-time and being a Mom. It was just so beautiful and thoughtful and I proudly display it.

Marie is a beautiful soul and gives excellent patient care to all her patients. I have seen her with very difficult patients and she wins them over and gets them smiling. My Uncle was a patient on her unit and he said she would come in and check on him even when she wasn't his nurse she would answer all his hundreds of questions and was very patient and understanding with him. He told me "she's probably the smartest nurse I have ever had and is so sweet".

Marie demonstrates all the criteria of a DAISY Nurse: Compassionate team player, patient advocate, critical thinker, and team player every day when she comes to work. UTMB is very lucky to have Marie and I am thankful for having her as a co-worker and friend.