Margo Schenk
August 2025
Margo
Schenk
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
Medical Intensive Care Unit
UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
Aurora
,
CO
United States
Her kindness, advocacy, and relentless dedication to both her patients and her colleagues make her truly one of a kind.
Margo consistently goes above and beyond for her patients, not only providing exceptional clinical care but also bringing compassion, creativity, and joy into the most difficult moments of people’s lives.
One especially powerful example of this was when Margo was caring for a young patient in the Medical ICU who had recently been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. The patient, an active-duty military member, had just received the heartbreaking news that she would need to medically retire due to her illness. Understandably, she was feeling down and discouraged.
Margo immediately connected with her. Seeing that the patient needed more than just medical care, she needed emotional support and a spark of light. Margo came up with the idea to host a happy hour to lift her spirits. She collaborated with the interdisciplinary team to gather decorations, coordinated with the nutritionist, who then contacted the cafeteria chef to provide desserts and mocktails, and even created a handmade card that was passed around the unit for staff to sign with words of encouragement. Margo went a step further by reserving a meeting space in the unit with stunning mountain views, giving the patient a much-needed change of scenery and a moment of normalcy.
She rallied staff members to attend and celebrate, helping the patient feel like just a regular young woman, not a cancer diagnosis. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of human connection and a testament to Margo's heart. This is just one example of the extraordinary care Margo provides every single day. She is not only a strong clinical nurse, but a compassionate leader on our unit. She has led initiatives to foster a skin-friendly culture, significantly reducing hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
She is also a phenomenal preceptor, guiding new nurses with grace, patience, and expertise. Margo exemplifies what it means to be a DAISY nurse. Her kindness, advocacy, and relentless dedication to both her patients and her colleagues make her truly one of a kind. It is a privilege to work alongside her, and her patients are so fortunate to receive the kind of care that only Margo can provide.
One especially powerful example of this was when Margo was caring for a young patient in the Medical ICU who had recently been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. The patient, an active-duty military member, had just received the heartbreaking news that she would need to medically retire due to her illness. Understandably, she was feeling down and discouraged.
Margo immediately connected with her. Seeing that the patient needed more than just medical care, she needed emotional support and a spark of light. Margo came up with the idea to host a happy hour to lift her spirits. She collaborated with the interdisciplinary team to gather decorations, coordinated with the nutritionist, who then contacted the cafeteria chef to provide desserts and mocktails, and even created a handmade card that was passed around the unit for staff to sign with words of encouragement. Margo went a step further by reserving a meeting space in the unit with stunning mountain views, giving the patient a much-needed change of scenery and a moment of normalcy.
She rallied staff members to attend and celebrate, helping the patient feel like just a regular young woman, not a cancer diagnosis. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of human connection and a testament to Margo's heart. This is just one example of the extraordinary care Margo provides every single day. She is not only a strong clinical nurse, but a compassionate leader on our unit. She has led initiatives to foster a skin-friendly culture, significantly reducing hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
She is also a phenomenal preceptor, guiding new nurses with grace, patience, and expertise. Margo exemplifies what it means to be a DAISY nurse. Her kindness, advocacy, and relentless dedication to both her patients and her colleagues make her truly one of a kind. It is a privilege to work alongside her, and her patients are so fortunate to receive the kind of care that only Margo can provide.