In 2018, when I decided to pursue my dream of working in the Operating Room as a nurse, I met Shawn, who was one of the circulating nurses on the unit. Shawn stood out to me as soon as I started here because of her personality. She was so welcoming and made me feel at home as soon as I started on the unit. If I had any questions, I could approach Shawn, and she never made me feel bad for seeking her out for help; she even gave me her number to reach out if I ever needed anything.

Shawn worked nights at the time I met her, and I witnessed the love and care she had for her very ill patients at a very nerve-racking time in their lives. Shawn would find ways to try and make each patient feel as comfortable as they could or try and have them smile even though they did not feel well. The families of the surgical patients always had all their questions answered by Shawn, and she always kept an open line of communication with them to calm their fears.

Early on, knowing Shawn, I always said she embodies the hospital's standards in her everyday interaction with fellow employees, surgeons, and patients. Shawn shows love by always supporting her team, even if it means staying past her shift to make sure her coworkers and patients are cared for and safe. There are many times when we have call-outs, and if Shawn is contacted, she rearranges her day or cancels appointments to come in and help when we are in need, and always does it with a smile. On Shawn's days off, she reaches out to other campuses to offer help when they are in need, and I have heard how appreciative the staff is of her for doing so.

Shawn keeps our unit safe, but lives out the unit policies and jumps in to lend a helping hand when needed, no matter how big or small the task is. Shawn owns her days as a charge nurse and works so hard to make sure our days run as smoothly as possible. She even reaches out to our outpatient surgery on the days she works to make sure their surgical staff have had breaks. Shawn makes our days easy by doing whatever is necessary by collaborating with our team and leaders to create solutions when we have hiccups in our days, and never complains.

I remember one night, I came in for Shawn to orient me when I transitioned to nights, and so much had happened at home, and I just started crying. God knew that night I needed Shawn to be that listening ear and show me grace by sending me home and reassuring me that everything would work out. After two years in this Operating Room, I transferred to another campus, and Shawn always kept in touch and even called to see if we needed any help on her days off.

It’s nurses like Shawn that make me proud to say I work for Advent Health. Four years later, I came back to where I started as a circulating nurse to become one of the leaders, and Shawn is now our Charge Nurse. In her everyday interaction, you can tell she loves what she does. Thankful is not enough of a word for what I am for Shawn as her leader.

She also is our Spiritual Ambassador, and little does she know her prayers in our morning huddle get me through my days when I am struggling silently. Shawn is a gem and my Hero, and this award is a small token of appreciation for the amazing nurse she is. I am honored to work beside such an excellent nurse and wish everyone could meet Shawn at least once to see that she truly is a DAISY.