I’m a 71-year-old retired physician who underwent surgery at MUSC for a metastatic lung lesion. Following the procedure, a chest tube was placed, which caused severe pain—likely pressing directly on my intercostal nerve. Anna’s expertise and compassion were immediately apparent. She proposed positional changes that offered real relief, including a strategy that allowed the pain to subside when I kneeled at the foot of my bed with my arms raised. As the nerve block wore off late that night, my pain intensified, and Anna stepped up even further.
Her impact was extraordinary in three key ways:

1. Family Collaboration and Emotional Intelligence: Anna quickly built trust with my wife, my primary support person, and a former Head of Risk Management for a major hospital. Together, they worked to manage my pain. This teamwork wasn’t just clinically helpful; it was emotionally stabilizing.
2. Professionalism and Advocacy: Throughout the night, she responded promptly and respectfully, never making me feel embarrassed despite my audible suffering. She transparently communicated the medical staff’s responses and advocated for me without placing blame. Her balanced approach both reassured us and preserved trust in the care team.
3. Clinical Judgment and Persistence: When I expressed fear of a heart attack due to crushing chest pain, Anna listened seriously and assessed my symptoms thoroughly. She was managing multiple patients but never showed fatigue or frustration. She contacted physicians persistently to secure appropriate pain management, demonstrating how skilled nurses enhance clinical care and patient safety.

As a former faculty member at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, I’ve known many excellent nurses. Anna stands out as one of the finest I’ve encountered—her ability to simultaneously support me, advocate professionally, and uphold institutional integrity is a model for nursing excellence.

She fully embodies the spirit of the DAISY Award. I am confident that many of her patients experience the same caliber of care.