Shannon Hartmann, RN

As a physician who works across multiple hospitals in our organization, I have the privilege of working with many excellent nurses. During my time at Hudson Hospital, Shannon Hartman stood out in a way that prompted me to submit this nomination.

I am commending Shannon because she brings a rare combination of compassion, advocacy, teamwork, clinical curiosity, and positive energy to patient care. She has a calm, thoughtful presence in difficult situations and a positive spirit that helps patients and colleagues feel supported while the team works toward practical, patient-centered solutions.

One example involved a patient who was being considered for discharge but was very reluctant to leave because of ongoing pain and symptoms, especially severe constipation after a recent procedure. Shannon communicated exceptionally well with the patient and partnered closely with me as the physician to find practical solutions. She helped us make thoughtful adjustments in medications and treatments, paid close attention to the bowel regimen, and consistently advocated for what the patient was experiencing. What stood out most was her ability to help turn a tense and difficult situation into a plan that felt safer, more thoughtful, and more acceptable to the patient. Her presence helped the patient feel heard, and her teamwork was instrumental in making discharge possible.

In a separate case, I was performing point-of-care ultrasound on a patient with advanced dementia to help assess volume status. Shannon stayed engaged throughout the encounter, helped support the patient through the interaction, and showed genuine curiosity for learning. She asked thoughtful questions about the heart and lung findings and how they informed our assessment and care decisions. I was struck not only by how attentively she supported the patient in the moment, but also by her desire to better understand the clinical reasoning behind care so she could contribute even more effectively.

I have also seen Shannon mentor new nursing students and model thoughtful, patient-centered care in a way that clearly influences those around her. She approaches care as a true team effort and strengthens that teamwork through her diligence, communication, advocacy, and positive spirit. I was especially impressed that this level of thoughtful, team-based care was delivered in our critical access hospital setting, where adaptability, trust, and collaboration matter enormously.

Shannon stands out because she does more than complete tasks well. She brings calm, sound judgment, compassion, and positivity to challenging moments, makes the whole team better, and meaningfully improves how patients experience their care. She is exactly the kind of nurse the DAISY Award is meant to recognize.