Michelle is an extraordinary RN with a positive attitude, who has shown compassionate care with her patients as well as her fellow nurses, and is very much deserving of the DAISY Award.

I was taking care of a very sick patient who had been in our unit for several months. It was a very emotionally draining assignment; we were slowly but surely watching this man's life fade away, trying to take care of him as well as his family members that were having a very hard time coping with the ongoing failing fight of their loved one. It was a sad and frustrating day. The patient looked like he was and had been suffering for a long time, and the family was still hopeful that he would recover. He was scheduled for yet another trip to the operating room and I was up to admit the first patient coming into the unit.

My new patient came when my other patient was in OR. As I first went into the room to assess him, the OR calls to say they are on their way back with my other patient. I quickly gave my new patient the "once over" and went to receive my other patient. His OR visit had not gone well; the surgeon had just given his family the devastating results, that we could do no more for him.

Without even telling me, Michelle jumped right in and took over care of my new admit so that I could focus on my other patient and his grieving family. She did my complete admission assessments, and just took right over as if he were her assignment. She even wheeled the new patient's wheelchair bound wife to her car, as no volunteers were available to do so at that time. I am incredibly grateful that she allowed me that time to spend with my patient's family.

Michelle displayed excellent leadership, teamwork, selflessness, and compassion that day, and is such a wonderful nurse to work with.