I would like to nominate Susan Wilson RN for the Daisy Award. As the Spine Neuro Coordinator, she works at all three campuses.

I am amazed and so proud that we have Sue as a nurse for our patients having brain or spine surgeries. She has been very supportive and a wealth of information to our Spine Academy Program. In addition to being in all the spine cases and ordering equipment, Sue has been able to attend several of our classes and is great at putting the patients at ease. She introduces herself and informs the patients that she will meet with them before surgery and be with them during the surgery. The patients always recognize her the day of surgery and several have called PST to state how "great and comforting" that was.

During a class at Bettendorf I had a patient from an outlying area, who was also a surgical nurse and as she said "I know too much". She was so nervous and "tired of the pain", that she began crying expressing how concerned she was about her surgery the next day. When the class was over, I sat with her answering her questions. I then went upstairs to see if Sue was available to speak with the patient. Sue was more than willing to come and talk to her. Sue probably only spent five to ten minutes with her, but did so much for this patient in that short period of time. Sue was able to tell her about the procedure and what would happen with positioning and how her own Mom had had this same surgeon. When she told the patient that she would see her before her surgery and be with her in the room and what her job would be with the surgeon, the patient immediately became calm and thanked her "so much" for talking with her.

The compassion and calming attitude that Sue portrayed was amazing. Sue has a great personality and "people skills". I am very proud to work with her and use her as a mentor as our spine program moves forward.