When one truly loves the work they do, it is evident. Sharon's love for nursing and caring for others reveals itself in so many ways. Sharon chooses to work on 4Main where she cares for the oncology patient population. Through personal experiences in her own life, Sharon has a special connection to these patients and their families. This connection is demonstrated in the individualized care she provides as these patients and their families deal with one of the greatest challenges they will ever face. Sharon takes the time to get to know these patients as individuals and in doing so, she comes to understand the unique life-altering impact that living with cancer can cause. Sharon is never too busy to take the time out to listen and support these patients and their family members when they most need an understanding ear to hear their fears or a sympathetic shoulder to support them. On a daily basis, Sharon can be found in the hallway or at a bedside, hugging a family member for support when they are at the end of their rope. At the end of her long days at work, Sharon very often will make one last trip to a patient's room to make sure they are safely tucked in for the day and to see if they need to talk before she leaves.
Sharon's caring doesn't stop when she finally gets home. Through her years of experience, - Sharon understands the value and strength that comes from a close knit staff on an oncology unit. She understands that in supporting and valuing each other, the nurses on an oncology unit are better prepared to support their patients. So Sharon extends her nurturing and supportive character to her coworkers on 4Main. For many years, Sharon has traditionally supported the new mothers among the nursing staff on 4Main by hosting a baby shower at her home for the nurse who is an expectant mother. She hosts the party, provides delicious food and games and also spends many hours crocheting a baby blanket for each new baby as a gift. Sharon's hand-made baby blankets are legendary on 4Main.
For the past few years, Sharon has also hosted and prepared a homemade holiday meal for 4Main's patients and family members for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and the 4th of July. She has spent many hours roasting turkeys and hams, preparing side dishes and desserts for those who are not able to spend holidays at home with their loved ones due to their illnesses. Sharon appreciates the value of memories created with loved ones during these special times each year, and she insists on doing what she can to minimize the sterility of a hospital environment by providing a short break and a mental diversion from these stresses on the patients and families by allowing them to get together have a home-cooked meal that is prepared with love. Even though she is exhausted from the physical work of planning and hosting such an event, Sharon insists on being present for the meals to spend time with the patients and families. Once she has the meal set up, Sharon takes the time to go room by room through the unit and personally invites each patients and their families to the 4 Main conference room for a meal and fellowship with the staff. The room is always decorated in holiday themes and there is music and laughter…. all provided by Sharon. Many times this means Sharon is taking time away from her own family to be here with our patients on the holiday. Once she is done here, she will travel home to spend time with her own family and serve a second meal for them that she has also prepared.
If this were not enough, Sharon goes further to show her love and support for her work on 4Main. Many times each year, Sharon will create unique handmade holiday decorations to decorate the unit for a holiday or season event. Many of the most creative bulletin boards and unit decorations on 4 Main are Sharon's creations. As patients and families walk the hallways of the unit, these decorations will catch their eye. They will stop, explore the bulletin board, and will always be seen to smile at Sharon's handiwork. Sharon appreciates that even if for just a moment, a personal touch or pleasant distraction for these patients and families can be therapeutic and reassuring. So Sharon takes the time to hang decorations on each patient door, or to create a themed bulletin board for patients to enjoy. Many times over the years, Sharon has created gift bags of goodies for patients to celebrate a holiday. She will make rounds, room to room and spend a couple of minutes talking with a patient, to provide a bit of good cheer or encouragement. These gestures are always shared with a comment to let each patient know that they matter and that someone cares. That someone is Sharon.
It is because of the enormous love and generosity, the giving spirit and the endless compassion and empathy that Sharon has for both the patients and her peers on 4Main that I wish to nominate her for the DAISY Award. An award whose spirit that I believe Sharon embodies every day in her work and in her heart.