July 2026 Honoree
Adeline Quarm, RN
Some nurses complete tasks, and some change people. Sister Adeline is the latter.
She is the kind of nurse whose presence steadies a room, whose leadership lifts others, and whose compassion quietly transforms the people lucky enough to work beside her. Across three very different shifts, each chaotic in its own way, she showed me what true nursing looks like: not just skill, but heart, integrity, and unwavering humanity. She represents everything the blue uniform stands for.
A few months ago, I was freshly out of nursing school, newly pinned, and still finding my feet. I couldn’t give IV medications yet, had no experience with cannulation or venepuncture, and every shift felt like a mountain I wasn’t sure I could climb. I felt like an imposter in my uniform, terrified of being a burden.
That shift started with familiar chaos—busy, unpredictable, the kind that keeps you on your toes and reminds you, "Yep, you're definitely a nurse now."
That day, Sister Ade wasn’t feeling well and had almost lost her voice, yet she still stepped up. She supported me, cared for her patients, helped me care for mine, and guided me through every task I struggled with. She answered every question with patience and never once made me feel like a burden. Her calm, integrity, and quiet strength made me feel safe amid the chaos.
The next day, despite still being unwell, she returned for another 12-hour shift with a smile, ready to support her colleagues and care for her patients. Watching her work through discomfort with such grace showed me what true dedication looks like—not self-sacrifice, but genuine commitment to her team and her patients. In those two days, she showed me what being a nurse truly means: compassion, courage, and leadership, even when no one is watching.
Weeks later, I worked another shift with Sister Ade that showed me yet again the depth of her leadership. She was scheduled only for an early shift as a supervisor, and I was meant to work a long day with another nurse. But a few hours in, that nurse became very unwell and had to go home.
Without hesitation, without complaint, and without a moment of doubt, Sister Ade stepped in. She extended her hours, picked up everything that was left behind, and supported me through the rest of the shift. It was last-minute, unexpected, and demanding, and she handled it with the same grace, humor, and steadiness she always brings.
I don’t know many nurses who would do that on such short notice. She did it because she cares, because she leads by example, and because she understands what teamwork truly means. She embodies the professionalism and quiet strength that the blue uniform represents.
The most recent shift was a night shift; I was scheduled to work with another newly qualified nurse. We are both still fairly new, and although in nursing months feel like years of learning, it is still frightening to face a night shift without a senior nurse—no one with years of experience to guide us through emergencies with calm and confidence.
The shift began in chaos. One patient sadly passed away. Another needed a syringe driver started. Another was awaiting a blood transfusion. All of it fell to the night shift because so much had happened just before handover.
Neither of us had enough experience to confidently set up a syringe driver. Once again, Sister Ade stepped up. She stayed late, long after her shift had ended, to support us. She helped set up the syringe driver, inserted the subcutaneous needle, prepared the medication, and made sure everything was safe and correct.
No questions. No frustration. No complaints. She simply did what needed to be done because she knew we needed her.
That moment showed me the kind of nurse I want to become. Not just skilled, but kind. Not just knowledgeable, but generous. Not just experienced, but willing to quietly lift others without expecting praise. She is the kind of nurse who honors the blue uniform with every action through dignity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to patient care.
Across all three shifts, each different and each demanding, one thing remained constant: Sister Ade’s heart. Her compassion. Her leadership. Her willingness to step in, step up, and stand beside her colleagues.
She does all of this quietly. She never expects recognition. She never seeks praise. She leads with both her head and her heart, and she is an asset to our ward in every possible way.
She is the kind of nurse who reminds you why nursing is a calling, not just a job. She represents the very best of our profession. I hope to have many more shifts with her, no matter how busy they are, because when you have a leader like her, you can handle anything and everything.
She deserves this award not only for what she does, but for who she is.
She is the kind of nurse whose presence steadies a room, whose leadership lifts others, and whose compassion quietly transforms the people lucky enough to work beside her. Across three very different shifts, each chaotic in its own way, she showed me what true nursing looks like: not just skill, but heart, integrity, and unwavering humanity. She represents everything the blue uniform stands for.
A few months ago, I was freshly out of nursing school, newly pinned, and still finding my feet. I couldn’t give IV medications yet, had no experience with cannulation or venepuncture, and every shift felt like a mountain I wasn’t sure I could climb. I felt like an imposter in my uniform, terrified of being a burden.
That shift started with familiar chaos—busy, unpredictable, the kind that keeps you on your toes and reminds you, "Yep, you're definitely a nurse now."
That day, Sister Ade wasn’t feeling well and had almost lost her voice, yet she still stepped up. She supported me, cared for her patients, helped me care for mine, and guided me through every task I struggled with. She answered every question with patience and never once made me feel like a burden. Her calm, integrity, and quiet strength made me feel safe amid the chaos.
The next day, despite still being unwell, she returned for another 12-hour shift with a smile, ready to support her colleagues and care for her patients. Watching her work through discomfort with such grace showed me what true dedication looks like—not self-sacrifice, but genuine commitment to her team and her patients. In those two days, she showed me what being a nurse truly means: compassion, courage, and leadership, even when no one is watching.
Weeks later, I worked another shift with Sister Ade that showed me yet again the depth of her leadership. She was scheduled only for an early shift as a supervisor, and I was meant to work a long day with another nurse. But a few hours in, that nurse became very unwell and had to go home.
Without hesitation, without complaint, and without a moment of doubt, Sister Ade stepped in. She extended her hours, picked up everything that was left behind, and supported me through the rest of the shift. It was last-minute, unexpected, and demanding, and she handled it with the same grace, humor, and steadiness she always brings.
I don’t know many nurses who would do that on such short notice. She did it because she cares, because she leads by example, and because she understands what teamwork truly means. She embodies the professionalism and quiet strength that the blue uniform represents.
The most recent shift was a night shift; I was scheduled to work with another newly qualified nurse. We are both still fairly new, and although in nursing months feel like years of learning, it is still frightening to face a night shift without a senior nurse—no one with years of experience to guide us through emergencies with calm and confidence.
The shift began in chaos. One patient sadly passed away. Another needed a syringe driver started. Another was awaiting a blood transfusion. All of it fell to the night shift because so much had happened just before handover.
Neither of us had enough experience to confidently set up a syringe driver. Once again, Sister Ade stepped up. She stayed late, long after her shift had ended, to support us. She helped set up the syringe driver, inserted the subcutaneous needle, prepared the medication, and made sure everything was safe and correct.
No questions. No frustration. No complaints. She simply did what needed to be done because she knew we needed her.
That moment showed me the kind of nurse I want to become. Not just skilled, but kind. Not just knowledgeable, but generous. Not just experienced, but willing to quietly lift others without expecting praise. She is the kind of nurse who honors the blue uniform with every action through dignity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to patient care.
Across all three shifts, each different and each demanding, one thing remained constant: Sister Ade’s heart. Her compassion. Her leadership. Her willingness to step in, step up, and stand beside her colleagues.
She does all of this quietly. She never expects recognition. She never seeks praise. She leads with both her head and her heart, and she is an asset to our ward in every possible way.
She is the kind of nurse who reminds you why nursing is a calling, not just a job. She represents the very best of our profession. I hope to have many more shifts with her, no matter how busy they are, because when you have a leader like her, you can handle anything and everything.
She deserves this award not only for what she does, but for who she is.
Thank you, Adeline, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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