Megan (Meg) works on the family practice unit at our hospital. Although not a nurse for very long, she has developed quickly into one of the role models on the unit. She has volunteered to precept new hire nurses as well as student nurse interns. Currently, she is serving as the unit diabetes nurse champion. She is conscientious and thorough, which, as the facilitator of the diabetes committee, is most appreciated. For those patients she cares for, it means you are in good hands.

Today, I submit Meg for a DAISY Award for her outstanding performance on a most challenging day. It is easy to be a great nurse on a calm and uneventful day. It is another when you are caring for extremely ill and complex patients who are unexpectedly and simultaneously deteriorating rapidly. Meg had six patients assigned to her that day. She was also mentoring a student nurse. While one patient was hemorrhaging on one side of the hallway, another was experiencing severe spontaneous hypoglycemia. Meg remained calm, followed protocols, and was persistent in her request for help and support as she collaborated with the medial and critical care teams of both patients. Through it all, back and forth, she did not lose her composure, nor did she forget the family member who was sitting at the bedside of the one patient. She spoke with her throughout the incident, keeping her informed and supporting her as she navigated the unknown.

I thank the DAISY Foundation for creating this Award so that we may shine the light on the most magnificent among us. As I noted previously, it's not how great you perform when it is "a good day." It is how you perform when it's not. Meg is a role model every day, but the excellent care she delivered on that day is a great example of how to best handle the most challenging of situations.