Sharon Costa, RN, is the perfect example of what a DAISY Award winner should be. She was the primary nurse assigned to care for my very anxious 51-year-old son, who had undergone a triple-vessel coronary artery bypass surgery at the end of February 2025.

My son does not just have coronary artery disease; he has several physical and psychological conditions that make him a complex and more challenging patient to care for. He was also slow to extubate, slow to wean from pressors, required high-flow oxygen, and was slow to mobilize out of bed. He was frequently fatigued and really didn’t want to engage in the activities he needed to do to get well. Sharon was patient, understanding, compassionate, yet firm, knowing with her experience and expertise that all he needed to do would help him recover faster. She continued to encourage him, and I believe he could see that she had his best interests at heart and would probably not take no for an answer. He could see that she knew what the “secret sauce” was to get him well and home again. Her nursing care was delivered with compassion, skill, and enthusiasm.

I will forever be grateful that Sharon was assigned as my son’s nurse. I found her to be professional and informative, and I knew that she provided him with the best-skilled nursing care every day. Every one of our questions and concerns was answered, and if she didn’t know the answer at the moment we asked, she always followed up with the information later. With Sharon, I was able to leave his bedside, knowing she would offer him the best care based on decades of experience that she has gained working with post-open-heart patients.

Sharon, thank you for providing exceptional care to my son. I will forever be grateful. It is my honor to nominate you for the Daisy Award!