Four nurses who work with Debbie nominated her for the DAISY Award. Words like, "it is an honor to work with Debbie," and "Debbie goes above and beyond to take the time to teach novice nurses the skills and knowledge that it takes to be a good nurse," were common in the nominations. Other phrases include, "Debbie is a sterling example of professionalism, compassion, and determination," and "patients and families trust her nursing skill because of her obvious compassion, and dedication." Her peers all commented their sincere admiration for Debbie and stated that she inspires them to do their best as she has continued to work hard and lead them by example as she endures her own personal struggles. They all mentioned her positive, caring attitude, love of nursing, and leadership skills.
A situation was shared that illustrates Debbie's compassion for her patients: 3 South admitted a patient who was recently diagnosed with cancer and was really depressed about her situation. Despite her busy shift and many responsibilities, Debbie took time out to sit with this patient who was not even on her own team. Debbie, who is undergoing her own treatment for breast cancer, shared her personal experience with this patient. She explained chemo and radiation and the choices that the patient was concerned about. The nurses reported that following Debbie's long visit with this patient, they noticed a difference. The patient began to verbally respond to them more, smile, and her appetite improved. This situation impressed upon these nurses that sometimes, we get so busy working that we forget what we loved about nursing. They see that even after her many years of acute care practice, Debbie has not forgotten why she became a nurse!