Mary Anne's dedication to Saint Joseph Hospital and the nursing profession has spanned over four decades. For 42 years, Mary Anne has served as an advocate, mentor, leader, and role model. Her impact is not only felt by the many patients and families she has served but also by the greater nurse community. Her name is synonymous with all things cardiac at Saint Joe’s. She spent time caring for open-heart patients, a CCU, in radiology but has spent most of her time in the Procedural Cardiology unit.

She has served as a model for personal and professional development. She helped create and elevate nursing shared governance structures within our hospital. She was a co-chair of the unit-based Patient Satisfaction and Clinical Practice and Safety councils for many years. This work has impacted patient outcomes and created a safer working environment for patients and staff.

Mary Anne has been a champion for evidence-based practices and resources. She also spends time bringing EBP to the bedside and even served as a formal mentor for our Nursing Research Fellowship program. In addition, she is participating in our clinical ladder. You can often find her sharing her knowledge in one of our classrooms, at the bedside, in a med room, in a restroom, or on a national stage. In addition, she has been active in professional organizations, especially AACN.

Finally, as a local chapter and hospital ambassador member, she can share best practices and network with other area hospitals. As a national member, she has presented posters, served on task force activities, given podium presentations at several NTI conferences, holds her PCCN certification, and was one of the first to hold the subspecialty cardiac medicine certification.

And still, none of this captures the art of nursing, which is Mary Anne. Her expert clinical skills allow her to take great care of the physical needs of patients. She has a special gift of anticipating needs and knowing when a hug, laugh, hand, or tissue is needed. Her compassion, care, character, and communication are unmatched. It is evident by the stories patients tell about her empathy, her DAISY nominations, awards such as outstanding patient educator and Spirit of the Sisters, and her two-time Colorado Nightingale Award nominations. Her work aligns seamlessly with our hospital's mission, values, and vision.

Mary Anne Potter Smith, affectionately known as MAPS, has been precisely that, a guide for me on my nursing journey. On one of my first days as a new graduate nurse, I met with Mary Anne as part of orientation. During this time, her love for Saint Joe's, our patients, the staff, and even me, someone she had just met, was noticeable. I left that day knowing I, too, one day wanted to be a nurse educator like Mary Anne someday. She took me under her wing and served as an inspiration and supporter. She has a unique way of increasing others' confidence and elevating practice. I, like many others, can attest to the legacy Mary Anne has created in our organization. So many of us in the world are better off for knowing Mary Anne. It is an honor and privilege to nominate Mary Anne Smith for The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.