Maria is the personification of the phrase "above and beyond." After many a shift worked with this nurse I have said to myself, "That girl deserves a DAISY Award!" I am finally doing something about that! She is positive, proactive, caring, and empathetic. She prioritizes patient care above all else, and she truly and clearly loves the patients that she cares for, and she dedicates all that she can to their well-being. I could go on and on with adjectives that describe her, but I will highlight two stories that shine a light on what an amazing pediatric nurse she is.

First of all, she is one of our nurses who is licensed to act as a Spanish interpreter with Spanish-speaking patients and families. On many, many occasions, I have seen Maria dedicate so much time and effort to translate not only for her own patients but for many patients and nurses on the floor, all within one shift, working tirelessly and without complaint to ensure that our patients and families are able to feel comfortable and experience proper communication. She is also passionate about ensuring the comfort of her patients - not only medically but also emotionally. She created a full chart on the computer to outline a daily schedule for a patient who needed a routine in order to feel safe and comfortable.

Both of these examples show how this nurse joyfully goes above and beyond her typical responsibilities as a nurse in order to provide the best care possible. She truly and wholeheartedly celebrates the healing and success of her patients - and her coworkers! She is a supporter and an encourager at heart. We are LUCKY to have her, and her patients are lucky to have her!