Julie Pitts was not a nurse known for keeping up with her charting. Those of us on the day shift watched her catch up into late morning most days. But this was not because she was lazy or even inefficient, it's because every second of her 12 hour shifts were spent at the bedside. The nurses that followed Julie on day shift had a lot to live up to.

Julie was a true comforter, often called an angel by her patients. She gave every patient a backrub, consoled their fears, and taught them about their disease processes in a manner the patient could understand. She was known to go home and bake a patients' favorite pie because that's what the patient needed to feel better.

Julie was not just great with the patient, she was an excellent mentor to the staff. She would help anyone that needed it, encourage those having a difficult shift, and was truly just a joy to work with.

Sadly, Julie was killed in a bicycling accident last September. Her absence from this hospital is still felt. When her husband Mark nominated Julie (he is also a nurse here), the DAISY Committee could not have agreed more that Julie was the one who truly deserved this award.