There’s no need to sum up the case history of the woman who thinks Nurse Supervisor Liz Gustavsen deserves a DAISY Award. In fact, she’s not even Liz’s patient. She was literally passing through, an outpatient on her way to an appointment elsewhere. Elderly and in need of a walker to get around, the woman was stymied by a locked entrance to Building One. Following the advice of a bystander to try entry through the Emergency Department, she arrived there out of breath and almost out of gas. She also needed directions and a place to sit down for a minute or two, and that’s when Liz Gustavsen happened by.

Liz got her a wheelchair, helped her settle into it, then personally wheeled her to the office of her scheduled appointment. They talked the whole way, and although the woman never got Liz’s last name, she remembered enough detail from their conversation for Liz to be identified when the nomination was received. Apparently, Liz made quite an impression. “Liz went above and beyond,” the patient wrote, “She was kind, warm, and caring. During this time of COVID-19, her attention to an individual that was not under her care was exceptional. She is a great ambassador for your hospital.”

Liz could have walked on by when she heard the woman getting directions at the ED desk. She could have called for transport. Or, since she’s a supervisor, she could reasonably be expected to delegate someone else to make sure the woman got where she’s going. Her business and destination was, after all, with another department and in another building altogether. But sometimes, the shortest distance between two points is an act of kindness. And in the opinion of Liz Gustavsen, something like that simply shouldn’t be delegated.