I had the opportunity to witness an exceptional act of nursing. I was the charge nurse and this nurse’s assignment caused her to be split. She took on the day with a positive attitude as she always does. Soon after the day started, she came to me as she identified a conundrum. One of her patients wasn't able to go home and was unfortunately going to miss their kindergarten graduation. She reported the family understood but with any missed milestone celebration was saddened at the missed opportunity.

She put on her thinking cap and started to coordinate resources to make graduation at the hospital a possibility. Dad didn't think he could make it to the house for the cap and gown, so someone posted a need for one on Facebook. This nurse reached out to Child Life to see how she could help. Child Life made a banner, created a diploma, and found some flowers while all the other details were being worked out.

As the afternoon approached, the Dad had made it with the cap and gown. This nurse got as many of her friends to east side for the ceremony, ushering everyone to make two rows. She asked one employee to cue the music and me, since I was the charge nurse, to award the child their diploma. Not only was I proud to tell that precious 6-year-old, "Congratulations! You are going to grow up to do great things!!" I was proud of the exceptional work that this nurse did that day to ensure this child was going to have their Kindergarten graduation. The parents exhibited tears of pure joy and also shared the uttermost gratitude that this employee was their nurse. It is my extreme honor to nominate my friend and colleague for a DAISY Award. She simply exhibits the qualities of a DAISY Nurse throughout her day-to-day practice.