Ashley Mathews is a registered nurse (RN) who practices in the Clinical Decision Unit. Ashley is being honored with the DAISY Award for going above and beyond for the patients and families she cares for.

In one particular situation, the nominator commended Ashley for helping a mentally-challenged patient whose native language was Vietnamese. Instead of settling for him to understand his discharge instructions in English (which he spoke fluently), Ashley grabbed the MARTTI and proceeded to give the instructions again in his native language. Ashley was thorough in her duties and made sure the patient understood how to take care of himself once discharged. The nominator states that this took a lot of extra time, but Ashley was patient and smiled through it all for the benefit of the patient.

Ashley is described by her peers as being a passionate, compassionate nurse who always makes the comfort of her patients her first priority. She is very reliable and willing to be flexible with all situations. Ashley has a great smile and sense of humor that brings peace to the patients she cares for. Ashley's managers further describe her as being someone who doesn't hide her thoughts about process improvements and safety for her patients which is much appreciated. They commend her for taking ownership of her unit and always working hard for her patients.

Because of Ashley's compassionate and caring efforts, her patients experience a level of care that exemplifies the impact nurses have in creating an environment where patients and families feel at home.