I am nominating Wendy to receive a DAISY Award for inspiring me as her coworker and reminding us all of the humanness of this career. It is easy to lose sight of that while stressed and constantly being exposed to people who are ill. Her care for her patients is truly from the heart; it is not prideful, and it is not for glory. I have known Wendy since she was a student nurse extern with us while she was in nursing school. However, over time, I have looked up to her as a nurse and the way she approaches her work.

Not only is she great with her patients, but she also is a wonderful teacher to her orientees, instilling in them what matters in this job and empowering them to improve. I am grateful to Wendy for inspiring me with her actions and words during every shift we work together.

Right now, Wendy is caring for a patient at the end of life. He has no family with him, as his family was unable to come from his home country, and he is only Spanish-speaking. It is easy to see how isolating this must be for him. Wendy, as one of the only Spanish-speaking nurses, has built a strong relationship with him. It is more human than what any one of us could while using a translator, something that many of us may take for granted. This patient has expressed so much gratitude for her care and her patience in understanding him and making him feel less alone on multiple occasions. Our night staff had a friend wedding for him, and it was emotional for all involved. She has made the end of his life so meaningful, and he has expressed so much gratitude for the friendships he has cultivated here, especially in a time when he feels the most alone.

With this patient’s decline, he is at a point where he is unable to speak for himself, but I have no doubt in my mind that he would have wanted to recognize her in this way if he had the opportunity to.