Andrea Kapfer is the absolute epitome of a DAISY Award Nurse. At this point in her nursing career, she deserves to have won the DAISY Award 100 times over. Her dedication to oncology extends far past her daily responsibilities at Infusion. She has created a true legacy through the countless nurses she has precepted and the many lives she has touched along the way. It is an honor to work alongside her and to have a firsthand view of the profound impact she makes on her patients’ journeys.

Andrea recently cared for a patient who was new to the area and, therefore, new to infusion, receiving the first cycle of a new chemotherapy regimen. He arrived alone, with significant psychosocial challenges and an underlying psychiatric disorder. It was immediately clear; he had very little support.

Because of the regimen he was receiving, it was critical that certain medications be picked up the same day, including antivirals, steroids, and medications to prevent tumor lysis. These prescriptions were not written until the patient was seen by the provider in infusion, and the patient had no means of obtaining them afterward.

Andrea was incredibly patient, compassionate, and thorough in caring for this individual. She provided extensive education and ensured his first day went as smoothly as possible, despite him being in infusion for the entire day. During discharge education, Andrea realized he did not have his home medications and had no family or support person to help him obtain them. Without hesitation, Andrea personally accompanied him to MCP to pick up his prescriptions, ensuring he was safe and set up for success at home.

This regimen and situation would have been taxing for any nurse, yet Andrea remained calm, attentive, and kind throughout. She recognized this patient’s vulnerability and stepped in where others might not have been able to. Remarkably, upon returning to the unit, Andrea immediately volunteered to take another patient. This speaks volumes about who she is, not only as a nurse but as a teammate who always sees the bigger picture and supports her unit without question.

Andrea has precepted countless infusion nurses over the years. I can personally attest to how fortunate I was to be paired with her when I transferred from inpatient nursing. I was exhausted and genuinely questioning whether nursing was still the right path for me.

Watching Andrea care for patients was like witnessing a master at work. She knew her patients deeply, their family dynamics, interests, fears, and struggles. She made it a priority to check in on them and often sat with them during their infusions. If you can’t find Andrea, it is because she is sitting with a patient during their treatment.

She does an exemplary job easing the fears of those facing new diagnoses, in part because she is a survivor herself. Andrea understands, in a deeply personal way, what her patients are experiencing and knows that taking time to connect with them improves outcomes. She brings a depth of empathy to her practice and understands the courage required to face these challenges.

She taught me the art of time management, multitasking, and, most importantly, the power of the human connection in nursing and the importance of being truly present when it matters most. She rekindled my belief in nursing and reminded me why I chose this profession in the first place.

Andrea Kapfer does not just meet the standards of the DAISY Award. She defines them.