Marsha has worked for Good Samaritan for over 40 years. She has been a floor nurse, clinical leader, IP, DNS and MDS. She has a light in her that fills the building with warmth and security. She recently had taken a trip to the Canada border for fishing. She has a resident that wasn’t eating much or talking much. The resident wanted to hear about her trip and see photos. She mentioned that her husband was making fish from the trip and the resident beamed and stated that it sounded good. She was speaking with me on her way home from work and told me she was going to bring fish back for the resident. She later told me the resident didn’t eat it but she took the time to be a positive force in a dying resident’s journey and bring fresh caught fish warm from the home cooking. The resident passed over last weekend.

That isn’t the only thing she is known for. She will have residents lined up for nail care. She has her own Dremel and multiple nail care clippers/scissors. If a resident wants something, they seek her out. They may want a band-aid, fresh water, a sweater, sewing, to make a phone call, a ride in the wheelchair or help with whatever. She does so many little things for the residents that is just her being the person she is, God’s hands at work. She is a nurse who comes in with a smile on her face through the difficult times. She is so dedicated to service that after an ice storm and working an overnight shift in a COVID outbreak, she attempted to return to work to help, slipped on her way and broke her ankle. She is the MDS nurse and knew the residents needed care and she worked remotely to complete MDS’s and IP to support her fellow nurses to ensure they could provide care to their residents until she was able to drive again after the broken ankle occurrence.

She listens, validates and provides the non-judgmental support of those whom she has been entrusted to provide care. Her grace and compassion for the entire footprint is second to none. She travels throughout the region to aid other buildings that need help developing care plans and coding MDS along with ensuring IP measures are up to date. She sits alongside the residents and completes interviews and assessments to establish the plan of care the resident wants for themselves. When she leaves the centers that she provided temporary support to, the residents there look for her and question her return. She is more deserving of a DAISY Award than words can state. Her actions are truly her heartfelt calling. She has been practicing her profession for five decades and over four have been with Good Samaritan. She is closing in on her retirement and I cannot imagine a nurse of her compassion who has not received a DAISY in her whole career. The community of residents, families and professionals are connected to her in ways I cannot articulate. Her soul is like the DAISY, with multi-petals of warm yellow light reflections of love, compassion and dedication to give everyone she cares for the same care she would want to receive.