Marisa Petrou
March 2026
Marisa
Petrou
,
BSN, RN
Operating Room
RWJBarnabas Health - Monmouth Medical Center
Long Branch
,
NJ
United States
Marisa’s act of kindness, the simple gesture of holding my hand, made all the difference.
Operating Room (OR) nurse Marisa Petrou, BSN, RN, who was praised by a recent surgical patient for a kind gesture that made all the difference to her as she was about to undergo surgery, has been honored with Monmouth Medical Center’s DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, endorsed by The DAISY Foundation.
Marisa, who joined Monmouth Medical Center as an OR nurse four years ago, was nominated for the DAISY Award by a patient who shared an essay titled “The Nurses Touch: An Irreplaceable Component of Caring.” In it, they shared:
The blast of cold air hits you as you're being wheeled into the OR. The sights and sounds become magnified... and then you remember why you are here. I’m having surgery! Your mind starts racing,” Will everything go as planned? Will I suffer any complications? Will I be okay?
My OR nurse was Marisa Petrou. I had never met her before, but I remember her colorful scrub cap, her dark eyes, and her reassuring voice. But that is not all – it was the simple act of holding my hand that was truly memorable and why I would like to recommend her for the DAISY Award.
As the anesthesiologist started to explain general anesthesia, he asked if I was okay. and if I had any questions. I quickly answer, "I’m okay, no questions." But then a tear slips out, and the next thing I know, Marisa is at my side holding my hand. This was the last thought before I drifted off to sleep, and it was the first thing I thought of when I awoke in the PACU.
This gesture made all the difference in the world. I was no longer scared. In unspoken words, it said, "You are not alone, I’m right here." This memory is as clear today as it was over a month ago, and one I will never forget. It is a reminder of the impact nurses have on their patients and what Dr. Jean Watson calls a transpersonal caring moment.
Marisa’s act of kindness, the simple gesture of holding my hand, made all the difference. I’ve often wondered if she heard the false bravado in my voice. Did she see the tear fall? All I know is once she held my hand, I felt grounded, and the sounds and mask being applied were no longer concerning.
Marisa, who joined Monmouth Medical Center as an OR nurse four years ago, was nominated for the DAISY Award by a patient who shared an essay titled “The Nurses Touch: An Irreplaceable Component of Caring.” In it, they shared:
The blast of cold air hits you as you're being wheeled into the OR. The sights and sounds become magnified... and then you remember why you are here. I’m having surgery! Your mind starts racing,” Will everything go as planned? Will I suffer any complications? Will I be okay?
My OR nurse was Marisa Petrou. I had never met her before, but I remember her colorful scrub cap, her dark eyes, and her reassuring voice. But that is not all – it was the simple act of holding my hand that was truly memorable and why I would like to recommend her for the DAISY Award.
As the anesthesiologist started to explain general anesthesia, he asked if I was okay. and if I had any questions. I quickly answer, "I’m okay, no questions." But then a tear slips out, and the next thing I know, Marisa is at my side holding my hand. This was the last thought before I drifted off to sleep, and it was the first thing I thought of when I awoke in the PACU.
This gesture made all the difference in the world. I was no longer scared. In unspoken words, it said, "You are not alone, I’m right here." This memory is as clear today as it was over a month ago, and one I will never forget. It is a reminder of the impact nurses have on their patients and what Dr. Jean Watson calls a transpersonal caring moment.
Marisa’s act of kindness, the simple gesture of holding my hand, made all the difference. I’ve often wondered if she heard the false bravado in my voice. Did she see the tear fall? All I know is once she held my hand, I felt grounded, and the sounds and mask being applied were no longer concerning.