I nominate Shaylene Michaels for the DAISY Award not only because of the outstanding care she gives her patients, her drive to excellence, but also because she is often described by her patients as their "sunshine". I would have to agree with that assessment. She is always smiling and happy even on the busiest of days and the shortest of shifts. She is always looking outside the box to see what she can do to lift her oncology patient's spirits.

Recently, I was in a class with Shaylene which consisted of a cancer survivor panel at the end. One of the patients on the panel was an oncology patient from 7 West. He not only highly praised the entire 7 West staff, but several times referred to Shaylene and the wonderful care and compassion she showed him as a patient. He spoke of her expertise, compassion, and willingness to listen. His direct quote was "when Shaylene was taking care of me, I knew I was going to have great care". He also mentioned her spirit lifting personality and how she made a tough time easier. He added he would not consider a different health care facility because of the wonderful care received here at Immanuel by nurses like Shaylene. In fact his quote was, "I don't know about other hospitals, but I do not think you cant beat the care at Immanuel anywhere because of the wonderful nurses like Shaylene". She was so obviously one of his favorites. To hear this praise in person should have made her very proud!