September 2026 Honoree
Jessica Erdely, RN
Jessica has been a valued member of the Baptist Health team for 14 years. She earned her nursing license in late 2009 and began her nursing career in January 2010. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Jessica has built both her life and nursing career around caring for others and making a meaningful difference in her community.
Jessica and her husband will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this November. She is also the proud mother of a 7-year-old daughter who means the world to her. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and her four beloved pets—two cats and two dogs. Her favorite activities include reading, visiting the beach or park, and traveling.
Jessica is being nominated for the DAISY Award in recognition of her extraordinary compassion, patient advocacy, and dedication to a patient with exceptionally complex medical and social needs. As a key member of the interdisciplinary team, Jessica supported a patient from Armenia who faced significant barriers to a safe discharge, including undocumented status, lack of identification, cognitive impairment resulting from a traumatic brain injury, and limited support systems.
From the beginning, Jessica took ownership of helping the patient find a safe path forward and played an instrumental role in facilitating her return to family in Armenia. Throughout this challenging process, Jessica went above and beyond to maintain communication between the patient and her family. She worked closely with translators to support ongoing conversations by phone, text message, and email, ensuring that the family remained informed, involved, and connected. Her dedication helped bridge substantial language and distance barriers while providing reassurance and continuity for both the patient and her loved ones.
Jessica also demonstrated remarkable patience and empathy while helping the patient obtain the documentation required for international travel. She partnered with the unit CNA to secure an appropriate passport photograph and carefully assisted the patient with completing the passport application.
Because of the patient’s traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairment, she had difficulty recognizing her own name and initially attempted to sign the application as “River Princess” rather than using her legal name. Jessica responded with dignity, patience, and compassion, helping the patient reconnect with her identity and relearn her signature so the necessary documents could be completed.
Jessica’s advocacy extended far beyond coordinating a discharge plan. She helped restore the patient’s connection to her identity, her family, and her future. Because of Jessica’s persistence, creativity, and unwavering compassion, this patient now has the opportunity to safely return to Armenia, reunite with family, and continue receiving care surrounded by loved ones.
Jessica truly embodies the spirit of the DAISY Award. Her kindness, advocacy, and commitment to exceptional patient-centered care made a profound and lasting difference in this patient’s life, and she is deeply deserving of this recognition.
Jessica and her husband will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this November. She is also the proud mother of a 7-year-old daughter who means the world to her. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and her four beloved pets—two cats and two dogs. Her favorite activities include reading, visiting the beach or park, and traveling.
Jessica is being nominated for the DAISY Award in recognition of her extraordinary compassion, patient advocacy, and dedication to a patient with exceptionally complex medical and social needs. As a key member of the interdisciplinary team, Jessica supported a patient from Armenia who faced significant barriers to a safe discharge, including undocumented status, lack of identification, cognitive impairment resulting from a traumatic brain injury, and limited support systems.
From the beginning, Jessica took ownership of helping the patient find a safe path forward and played an instrumental role in facilitating her return to family in Armenia. Throughout this challenging process, Jessica went above and beyond to maintain communication between the patient and her family. She worked closely with translators to support ongoing conversations by phone, text message, and email, ensuring that the family remained informed, involved, and connected. Her dedication helped bridge substantial language and distance barriers while providing reassurance and continuity for both the patient and her loved ones.
Jessica also demonstrated remarkable patience and empathy while helping the patient obtain the documentation required for international travel. She partnered with the unit CNA to secure an appropriate passport photograph and carefully assisted the patient with completing the passport application.
Because of the patient’s traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairment, she had difficulty recognizing her own name and initially attempted to sign the application as “River Princess” rather than using her legal name. Jessica responded with dignity, patience, and compassion, helping the patient reconnect with her identity and relearn her signature so the necessary documents could be completed.
Jessica’s advocacy extended far beyond coordinating a discharge plan. She helped restore the patient’s connection to her identity, her family, and her future. Because of Jessica’s persistence, creativity, and unwavering compassion, this patient now has the opportunity to safely return to Armenia, reunite with family, and continue receiving care surrounded by loved ones.
Jessica truly embodies the spirit of the DAISY Award. Her kindness, advocacy, and commitment to exceptional patient-centered care made a profound and lasting difference in this patient’s life, and she is deeply deserving of this recognition.
Thank you, Jessica, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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