ICICU Staff Nurse Sarah Smrcina, BSN, RN is the newest recipient of Jefferson’s DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Sarah was honored with the award during a surprise visit to her unit on December 20. The award, offered through the DAISY Foundation, is part of Jefferson Nursing’s efforts to recognize the amazing work done by our nurses every day.

Sarah was nominated by co-worker Michelle A. McKay RN, MSN, CCRN. In her nomination letter, Michele wrote, “I had the pleasure of witnessing a truly Jefferson nurse moment. Sarah was caring for a patient who was a victim of an assault. This patient was feeling down about his situation and the long road of rehabilitation he was facing. The patient stated he did not have a real appetite but was in the mood for a vanilla milkshake. Sarah walked over to the Midtown Diner and purchased this patient a vanilla milkshake.”

Michele spoke with the patient after he drank his milkshake, and a big smile came across his face. “He said how wonderful it tasted,” Michele recalled. “We talked about how it is the little things in life that can make a day better.” She continues, “I nominate Sarah for the DAISY Award because that one simple act gave this patient a moment of pleasure before the biggest fight of his life. As we said, it is the little things in life. Sarah exemplifies what I believe is a DAISY Nurse.”