I would like to nominate Patricia, RN with Novant Heart and Vascular, for her unwavering commitment to compassion, teamwork, and diversity. In today’s constantly evolving healthcare environment, navigating appointments, medications, and treatment plans can be overwhelming for any patient. For our non–English-speaking patients, these challenges can be even more daunting. For one such patient, Patricia became the difference between safe, effective care and a potentially poor outcome.

This patient presented to the clinic requiring close INR management while taking Coumadin, a high-risk medication that demands frequent follow-up and strict adherence to a changing regimen. The patient is Spanish-speaking, faces significant financial concerns, and mistrusts others due to language barriers. These factors made it exceptionally difficult to reach him by phone, keep appointments, and ensure proper medication use.

Recognizing these barriers, Patricia took the initiative to assist me, the patient’s primary nurse, in establishing rapport and creating a foundation of trust. She used her native Spanish language to ensure he fully understood the importance of medication adherence and appointment compliance. Through patience and genuine compassion, she gained his trust—an essential step that allowed him to engage with the clinic, answer phone calls, and follow his Coumadin instructions. She also connected him with reliable resources that helped him obtain his medications at an affordable cost.

Patricia’s support was not a one-time intervention. It was a series of follow-up phone calls, in-clinic conversations, and moments of reassurance. She made herself consistently available to both the patient and me, ensuring he did not fall through the cracks of a complex healthcare system. By meeting the patient where he was, guiding him through the maze of care, and creating a sense of safety and understanding, she transformed his experience entirely.

Patricia drew on her background and lived experiences to connect with the patient in a meaningful way, allowing her expert nursing care to truly shine. The patient ultimately achieved a positive clinical outcome—not simply because of medication or treatment, but because of the compassion, advocacy, and dedication Patricia brought to his care.

For these reasons, I wholeheartedly believe that Patricia deserves the DAISY Award and represents the very best of the nursing profession.