Michelle was exceptionally caring and warm. She knew where to draw the line regarding how much attention to give and how much privacy to honor. I clearly felt her warmth and support. Bottom line: she comforted me and made a bad situation feel as positive as possible.

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We are nominating Michelle for the DAISY Award after experiencing her incredibly kind and warm care. We had several nurses attend to my friend during his stay in the ICU, but Michelle was the warmest of all, with the perfect balance of care, respect for the situation, and comfort. This is an unimaginably difficult time for family and friends and for B, who is battling a large brain tumor. In this most difficult time without rest and sleep, he is not only emotionally rattled but also physically due to lack of sleep in the ICU (loud noises, bright lights, all sorts of wires attached to his body that were pushed and pulled more with efficiency in mind rather than care and comfort).

Michelle came as a wave of comfort with her smiles and high emotional quotient. She even asked the visitors about their needs for water, etc. She managed all tasks, medical and caring-related, with such ease and joy that B and others could feel comforted. B is battling with the thoughts of coming to terms with a traumatic diagnosis and brain surgery; Michelle seemed to understand the gravity of the situation deeply. She made the morning hour when she attended the most comforting. She did not hesitate to take the few extra seconds or minutes that can make all the difference in how a patient can feel about themselves under such circumstances. I am sure she was just as busy as others, except she took the time to make the patient feel deeply human. She has our strongest support, and we wish her a most successful and joyful time at MercyOne.