Elizabeth Hughes, LPN

I am nominating Elizabeth because she exemplifies the very best of nursing. She works in the clinic, caring for veterans who are often medically complex, physically frail, or living with cognitive impairment. She treats every patient with dignity, compassion, and genuine respect, but an experience, recounted to me by the person there, illustrates exactly who she is as a nurse.
Several months ago, a veteran with multiple chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, finished an appointment at the Sousley campus and went outside to wait for his scheduled specialty transportation home. Because he relies on an electric wheelchair, he had no practical way to leave independently and was especially vulnerable. Through no fault of his own, his transportation never arrived. More than three hours passed as he waited outside the clinic alone.
After completing her full nine-hour shift, Elizabeth was leaving for the day when she noticed the veteran, her patient, still sitting outside. Although she had every reason to go home, she immediately sensed something was wrong. She parked her car, walked over to check on him, and discovered that he had been stranded for hours. She quickly assessed not only his growing frustration and anxiety but also his physical well-being. She sat beside him, listened patiently, offered reassurance, and stayed with him so he would not have to face the situation alone. The veteran spoke with deep gratitude about her kindness and the comfort her presence gave him. Rather than making a single phone call and leaving, she became his advocate. She contacted the transportation dispatcher herself, obtained updates, and continued following up as the delay stretched on. Throughout that time, she remained at his side, offering companionship, encouragement, and reassurance during what had become an exhausting and distressing ordeal. What could have been an isolating and frightening afternoon instead became one in which an elderly veteran knew someone genuinely cared about his safety and well-being.
What makes this story especially remarkable is that every part of it occurred after her shift had already ended. She willingly gave at least another hour and a half of her own personal time, refusing to leave until she personally watched him safely board his transportation and begin his trip home. To my knowledge, she never received or even sought recognition for this.
This was not an isolated act of kindness; it reflects who she is every day. She never makes veterans feel like they are simply another appointment on a schedule. She takes the time to know them as people, honors their service with sincere gratitude, and ensures they are treated with the dignity and respect they have earned.
Many nurses provide outstanding clinical care. What distinguishes Elizabeth is that her commitment to her patients extends far beyond the boundaries of a scheduled appointment or the end of a workday. She recognized that a vulnerable veteran had effectively been left alone, anticipated the medical risks associated with his prolonged wait, addressed both his physical and emotional needs, tirelessly advocated on his behalf, and remained with him until she knew he was safe.
In a healthcare system where patients can sometimes feel like they are simply moving through a process, she reminded one veteran that he mattered. She combined clinical judgment with extraordinary compassion, advocated for a vulnerable patient when no one else was there, and quietly gave her own time simply because she believed it was the right thing to do. Her actions embody the very highest ideals of nursing, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the DAISY Award.