Grace is always the first person to respond to an RRT or code on the unit. She doesn’t stand in the hallway and wait for someone to ask or tell her what to do; instead, Grace immediately jumps in and assists with whatever needs to be done for the patient and the patient’s nurse. Grace is an excellent person to have at your side. She is intelligent and intuitive and can seemingly run the show with her eyes closed.

Grace is also the resident expert on cardiac rhythms. Anytime a nurse has a questionable read from the teletech or concern about a patient’s condition, the nurse goes to Grace.

Grace is always willing and ready to jump in and help her colleagues, no matter how busy she gets. For example, when Grace noticed the one-to-one sitter being worn down by the ambulatory, semi-aggressive dementia patient, Grace volunteered to watch and care for the patient so the sitter could step away for a break. The patient was not Grace’s assignment, nor was the sitter Grace’s break buddy. Grace simply saw someone struggling and offered herself to try to improve the situation.

Grace is one of the most deserving individuals I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside and being awarded with the DAISY is the minimum she deserves. Her compassion and commitment to patients in her care, as well as those working with her, should be held up as the ideal for others to aspire to. I think the hospital would be better if there were more people like Mary Grace.