Monique Huggins, MSN, RN was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. by her Jamaican mother and grandmother. As a child, she was taught that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. She was also encouraged as a young girl to pursue a career in nursing. Although she did not follow that path straight out of high school, the death of her mother made her realize that she wanted to honor one of her mother’s final wishes, which was for her to become a nurse. 

According to Monique, “Nursing is a multifaceted field and that is one of the reasons why I love nursing. Being someone who is empathetic, compassionate, and caring, my family helped me to realize early on that nursing was the career path for me. I am there to hold patients’ hands at the most difficult times. I have encountered patients at the beginning of their life and at the end. During this time, I have cared for some of the most vulnerable members of society. Every experience I have had has helped me develop the skills that I use to this day. One thing I learned is all patients regardless of age, race, sex, or socioeconomic status want to be treated with respect and compassion and that is what the DAISY Foundation exemplifies. I am thankful to the DAISY Foundation not only for me but for all the nurses that go above and beyond for their patients.”