March 2026 Honoree
Lisa Lauriano, RN
During my recent surgery, I was feeling very vulnerable and anxious. Being in the hospital can already feel overwhelming, but for me it was especially hard because my family lives very far away. My family is in New Zealand, and going through something like this without my mum nearby can make you feel incredibly alone.
From the moment Nurse Lisa came into the room, everything shifted. She greeted me with warmth and kindness that immediately made me feel safe. What stood out most was how deeply she listened to me.
As a woman of color, there are times in healthcare when you worry that your concerns may not be fully heard or understood. Nurse Lisa made sure that never happened. She took the time to truly listen, asked thoughtful questions, and made sure I felt comfortable expressing how I was feeling. I felt respected, understood, and cared for in a way that meant so much.
Throughout the entire experience, she remained incredibly attentive. She checked on me often, made sure I was comfortable, explained what was happening so I wouldn’t feel anxious, and treated me with such genuine compassion.
At one point I remember thinking that the way she was caring for me felt just like how my mum would if she were there. In that moment, Nurse Lisa wasn’t just my nurse — she was the person making sure I felt safe, supported, and not alone.
What could have been a frightening and isolating experience instead became one where I felt protected, heard, and cared for as a person. Nurse Lisa didn’t just provide excellent clinical care — she brought empathy, humanity, and kindness into the room in a way that completely changed my experience.
Nurses like Lisa are the heart of healthcare, and she embodies everything the DAISY Award represents. I will always remember the way she cared for me, and I hope she knows that the compassion she showed that day made a lasting difference in my life.
If every patient could be lucky enough to have a nurse like Lisa during a vulnerable moment, the experience of being in the hospital would feel very different. I have no doubt that she provides this same level of kindness and advocacy to every patient she cares for, and that is exactly what makes her so deserving of the DAISY Award.
From the moment Nurse Lisa came into the room, everything shifted. She greeted me with warmth and kindness that immediately made me feel safe. What stood out most was how deeply she listened to me.
As a woman of color, there are times in healthcare when you worry that your concerns may not be fully heard or understood. Nurse Lisa made sure that never happened. She took the time to truly listen, asked thoughtful questions, and made sure I felt comfortable expressing how I was feeling. I felt respected, understood, and cared for in a way that meant so much.
Throughout the entire experience, she remained incredibly attentive. She checked on me often, made sure I was comfortable, explained what was happening so I wouldn’t feel anxious, and treated me with such genuine compassion.
At one point I remember thinking that the way she was caring for me felt just like how my mum would if she were there. In that moment, Nurse Lisa wasn’t just my nurse — she was the person making sure I felt safe, supported, and not alone.
What could have been a frightening and isolating experience instead became one where I felt protected, heard, and cared for as a person. Nurse Lisa didn’t just provide excellent clinical care — she brought empathy, humanity, and kindness into the room in a way that completely changed my experience.
Nurses like Lisa are the heart of healthcare, and she embodies everything the DAISY Award represents. I will always remember the way she cared for me, and I hope she knows that the compassion she showed that day made a lasting difference in my life.
If every patient could be lucky enough to have a nurse like Lisa during a vulnerable moment, the experience of being in the hospital would feel very different. I have no doubt that she provides this same level of kindness and advocacy to every patient she cares for, and that is exactly what makes her so deserving of the DAISY Award.
Thank you, Lisa, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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