I am writing to nominate Tiffany, RN, for the DAISY Award because of the incredible compassion and care she showed me during one of the scariest times of my life. I was in disbelief when I was told I had Sepsis and Pneumonia. But nothing could have prepared me for what happened when I first arrived on the floor. Without any explanation, I was suddenly surrounded by two men and a woman who began scrubbing me down with moist towelettes. I didn’t know what was happening—I felt exposed, frightened, and overwhelmed. I began to cry.

That’s when Tiffany stepped in. She took my hand, looked me in the eye, and gently explained what was going on. She asked me if I wanted everyone else to leave and said she would do it herself if that would make me more comfortable. That small act of kindness—her willingness to slow down and treat me like a person, not just a patient—meant everything to me in that moment. She talked to me throughout to help ease my anxiety and distract me from what I was feeling.

Later, I was terrified by the constant alarms from the monitors. All I knew was that I had sepsis, and I didn’t understand what was happening or why they were watching me so closely. Tiffany took the time to explain everything in a way I could understand. She told me what the alarms meant, what they were hoping to see, and why it mattered. No one else had explained any of that to me.

She gave me the language I needed to ask questions and the understanding to feel more in control. But more than that, she gave me comfort. She saw me as a human being who was scared, vulnerable, and in need of compassion.

Tiffany is the definition of what a nurse should be. Her empathy, patience, and kindness helped me get through something I didn’t think I could face. She truly embodies what the DAISY Award stands for, and I hope she is recognized for the Extraordinary Nurse and person that she is.