The Step-Down Unit nominated Paula Marshall for the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. Paula was called to the nursing profession in high school when she took a class called Medical Occupation. She began her nursing career as a CNA, starting in nursing homes, providing care to sometimes 16 patients at a time. She moved on to an acute care facility in Fullerton. This is where she decided she wanted to advance her medical career and become a Registered Nurse. She joined the Army in 1980 to become a medic/ RN. Life had different plans for her, and she ended up building tank turrets. She was honorably discharged from the Army in 1986. She finally found the time to go back to school and get her LVN and RN licenses. She graduated from nursing school and passed the NCLEX boards in 1991. She was hired at Redlands Community Hospital as a bedside RN.

From there, she became a manager in a behavioral unit, managing adolescent behavior for problem children. She was able to open the behavioral health program that worked with incorrigible teenagers who were placed in Juvenile Hall. Unfortunately, this facility closed, and she returned to acute care, working in med/surg/tele. She was offered a job at Kindred Hospital Ontario as a charge nurse, where she worked for ten years. She was able to help mold and train so many up-and-coming nurses who eventually worked with Kaiser Permanente. There were so many people and so many blessings that she had the honor of being part of. Between Fontana and Ontario, she has had the privilege to be part of the Kaiser family for 20 years as a floor nurse and a Charge nurse. She has been a nurse her entire life.

As the charge nurse/nurse leader in the Step-Down Unit for 12 years, Paula was affectionately known as the “mama bear” of the unit, always advocating for and speaking up for her staff, especially during COVID-19. She was the heart and soul of the team, guiding them through the most challenging times with wisdom, courage, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, especially during COVID-19, when the SDU team lost one of their own to this deadly disease.

One nurse describes Paula as her advocate and leader because she was always there for her when she needed her help. She was always respectful of the staff and always defended her staff. She could always read between the lines and understood what people were saying, especially when they had trouble expressing or saying it. Paula taught another nurse invaluable lessons that have been the cornerstone of her career advancement, “She showed me the essence of being an effective charge nurse, emphasizing the critical importance of working closely with management to enhance patient outcomes.” This evolution in her professional path stands as a direct tribute to the profound influence Paula has had on her journey. This nurse has officially accepted Paula’s charge position and is now the full-time charge nurse at SDU. Paula Marshall's legacy extends far beyond her accomplishments and the accolades she received; it is truly defined by the lives she touched, the nurses she inspired, and the enhanced care patients received under her leadership. It is for these reasons, and many more, that we believe Paula is the embodiment of the values and excellence the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award represents.