...Jen is the ultimate patient advocate. She has the ability to put herself in the patient shoes and she treats her patients like she would want her family members to be treated. This is evident in the way she advocates for her patients when their pain is out of control or the dying process is starting and patients need sedation or even if they just need another blanket.

One evening while I was on Leader Rounding I asked one of her patients if there was anyone she'd like to acknowledge. Right away she had a big grin on her face and tears welled up in her eyes. She told me that during her treatment for Leukemia Jen helped her by being positive, helping her laugh and teaching her about her disease. She said she grew to trust whatever she said and she knew Jen would take care of her while she was in the hospital. The day her hair started falling out the patient realized the magnitude of her diagnosis. That evening when Jen walked in her room she started crying, Jen sat on the edge of the bed and held her in her arms and cried along with her. She said that Jen not only was her Oncology nurse but she became like her sister that day.

Jen has a heart of gold and has compassion for all patients especially the ones that have no family or are homeless. I've seen her sitting, holding a dying patient's hand and talking to them in a soothing manner. They had no one to be there in their last days. She even helps the forgotten ones have a positive experience.

Jen also has the best laugh, probably the top 5 of all the laughs I've heard. Whenever I need to find her I step into the hallway and wait a minute and sure enough I hear her laugh.

Jen is what the DAISY Award is all about skill, advocacy, compassion and a big heart. Jen has them all.