It is with great admiration and respect that I nominate Samantha Bahnasy, RN-BSN, Liaison Nurse for the DAISY Award. Samantha has been with North Shore University Hospital for over four years. She consistently demonstrates exceptional clinical expertise, compassionate care, and strong leadership that inspires both patients and staff every day. Working on the oncology unit requires a special kind of strength and empathy, and Samantha embodies both. Samantha goes above and beyond not only for our patients but also for our team. As a Liaison RN, Samantha leads with calm confidence, ensuring that patient safety, comfort, and dignity always come first, even in the most demanding situations.
One moment that stands out was when 7 Monti was faced with unexpected admissions, three new chemotherapy starts, three patients being discharged and transferred from ICU, and a patient actively dying with family very emotionally draining to the staff. Instead of reacting in a stressful situation, Samantha quickly brought the entire team together for a 5-minute huddle. She clearly prioritized tasks, reassigned workloads, and asked for input from the nursing team. She also assisted with the completion of admissions, administered/cosigned some chemotherapy, and completed the assessment and paperwork of the transfer from ICU while discharging the three patients. She also discussed with management to get some assistance with meals for the wife of the patient, who was actively dying, as she noticed the wife never left the bedside. She also prepared the patient assignment for the night shift to ensure continuity of care.  Throughout the day, Samantha maintained open communication – rounding on every patient, supporting the nurses emotionally, and ensuring no one felt overwhelmed. At the end of the day, all critical tasks were completed safely, patients received timely patient care, and the team ended the shift feeling proud and united rather than exhausted and frustrated.
As the nurse manager, I received many compliments from staff on how Samantha kept everyone calm and connected and how her leadership turned chaos into teamwork. Beyond her clinical excellence, Samantha is a mentor and role model. She takes time to educate newer nurses, answer questions without judgment, and create a culture of teamwork and respect. No matter how busy the shift is, Samantha ensures every patient and team member feels supported. Samantha's empathy, professionalism, and dedication exemplify the spirit of the DAISY Award. It is an honor to work alongside such an extraordinary nurse. I wholeheartedly nominate Samantha Bahnasy for the DAISY Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to our patients, our unit, and the nursing profession.