I am honored to nominate Nancy Garcia for the DAISY Award because she embodies everything a nurse should be, compassionate, patient, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to her patients and colleagues. During my Med-Surg rotation at Kaiser, I had the privilege of working alongside Nancy, and she made an incredible impact on my learning experience. From the very first day, she welcomed me with kindness, encouraged my growth, and took the time to teach me not just the “how” but also the “why” behind everything we did. She explained every concept with patience, answered all my questions with enthusiasm, and never made me feel like a burden, even when things were hectic. Beyond her exceptional teaching, Nancy demonstrated unwavering compassion for her patients. She treated each person with dignity and warmth, ensuring they felt heard and cared for. Her ability to balance efficiency with genuine human connection is something I deeply admire and hope to emulate in my own nursing career.

For example, we had a patient we were caring for that had endured trauma from an MVA and was bed bound and required around the clock care. They needed help with all ADLs. Nancy showed them immense compassion and utmost respect as well as consoled them and assured through it all as well as walked them through everything when they felt defeated or didn’t understand something. She held the utmost respect and took the time to make their stay more comfortable. What truly sets her apart is her passion for nursing. Even on the busiest days, she remained calm, positive, and supportive not only to her patients but to the entire healthcare team. Out of all the nurses I have worked with, Nancy was the best. She not only made my time at Kaiser unforgettable but also reignited my love for nursing and why I got into this beautiful career in the first place. Nancy is an outstanding nurse, mentor, and role model, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the DAISY Award.