Pamela is a skilled cath lab nurse, former ICU nurse, cardiovascular services charge nurse, and fills in to help other departments as needed. She frequently comes out to the cardiovascular unit to help with a difficult case or to start an impossible IV. But regardless of which hat Pamela is wearing, she always wears a kind smile, gentle expression and warm heart. Her patients refer to her as "the lovely nurse".

Our unit recently had a patient come for a procedure who had significant wounds on both of his feet. As he was being prepped for procedure, he was gruff and withdrawn. He was frustrated - much of his life was dictated by his medical conditions - having to constantly live around his next dialysis appointment, his next vascular check, his next procedure. Always in pain. He shared that each day was the same as the one before it.

After his procedure, while was resting in his room, this patient was exceptionally quite. Thinking he may be in pain I asked him how he was doing. He paused, then replied "She changed my bandages. She cleaned my feet. She touched me." He was talking about Pamela. Before bringing this man back to his room, Pamela had changed his dirty and ragged bandages, carefully cleaning the wounds and placing fresh dressings.

Pamela is everything that embodies a DAISY nurse. She is thoughtful, thorough, kind, sincere, compassionate and excellent in all she does. She touches people, with her skill, positive energy and thoughtfulness. She made a difference to this man that he will remember always. St. Joseph Hospital is blessed to have had her working for us for the past 38 years, and I am honored to nominate her for this award.