Susan has excellent clinical skills. She knows instinctively what to do when a crisis happens with one of our patients. When a situation turns serious, she moves swiftly. She notifies people that should be notified, keeps the patient stable and maintains a calmness that is reassuring to those less experienced than herself. One weekend when I was in charge, we were overwhelmed with patients and short of staff. Susan is so well crosstrained that she took on 3 three roles by herself. She watched her own patient, triaged new patients and worked as back up to the OR circulator. Susan maintained safety in all she was doing by keeping me informed and delegating when she could. I love knowing she is on one of my shifts because she works selflessly to insure our patients get their needs met.

Look up "Compassionate Care" in the dictionary and there might be a picture of Susan there. She really listens to her patients and connects with them in a way that is both comforting and reassuring. She has a knack for connecting with those who are less fortunate than herself. She is non-judgemental in her approach to them, no matter what life situation they are in. She treats them kindly, educates them at a level they can understand and makes sure whoever assumes care gets a full report and will continue with compassionate care she is giving. If she overhears negative talk about them, she speaks up and defends them as people who need our help, not our judgment.

Susan often comes in extra to help us out during busy times. She even will sleep here to be a scrub tech when the night shift girls don't have one. To me, this is an example of exemplary service. When Susan arrives to help, she jumps right in, never looking for simpler tasks, but going straight to the heart of what is needed most.

I would like to see Susan receive this Daisy award because of her continued commitment to excellence. When I round as a charge nurse, I can see the comfort she is bringing her patients. I have never had a single complaint about her. Her co-workers love her, the physicians do as well, not only for her wonderful humor and warm personality but also because they recognize she knows her "stuff". With over 18 years of service to Salem Hospital, she has maintained her commitment to her patients and our community by being one of the "best of the best". Her dedication is apparent, not only to this organization, but to her family, her co-workers and community.