Upon arriving to work and getting our assignments, Audrey walked into her patient's room to her husband asking to take her bipap mask off. Within the next thirty minutes, our patient was transitioned to comfort care. Her husband sat guarded in the chair trying to be supportive, tears welling in his red eyes. His wife asked him to make sure he called a friend to make sure he was taken care of. The patient was so nervous for him to make it home and have someone care for him after she passed. Audrey stepped right into this sensitive situation and provided the care needed to ease our patient's worries. I would like to say our patient slipped quickly into the next world but she hung on - one hour after another. Audrey tended and cared for her (and her husband's) every need - Morphine, turning, caring for her husband - However, this patient wanted to go home to die.

As the hours slipped by, Audrey became a strong nursing advocate and advanced the idea of the patient going home to die. With her knowledge of discharges from her time in 3west, she brought all the tools and resources to this woman's last day and helped make her last wish come true. Audrey asked our patient if she wanted to go home and was met with tears of joy. "I will be able to die in my bed where my dog, the love of my life, died. He will know where to find me now." Audrey was the power horse that made this woman's last day on earth a peaceful one.

Audrey made her time in the hospital as calming and comforting as possible and she tended to the patient's husband so the patient could be in peace. She was a leader by the compassionate, tender, insightful care she brought to this woman. Audrey was the lead example of a true patient advocate and is a shining example of what it means to be a nurse. This story is only one example of Audrey's care. But it doesn't stand alone.

I see and hear Audrey educating with patience, caring with dignity, and fully embracing all it means to be a DAISY nurse. She is tender when she needs to be and firm when the circumstances demand it. She is knowledgeable and a joy to be around. She works well as a team player and is always ready to jump into even the most unpleasant nursing tasks. Yet she does it. I have seen her cry with and for her patients - create individualized care for our patients like the "Alaskan incentive Spirometer" so it would be fun for our travelers, or make a meal beautiful just to make them smile. She goes above and beyond and her heart beats the beats of compassion and care. She is deserving of this DAISY Award.