There are a number of reasons why Beth deserves this award. First, Beth is a shining STAR when it comes to patient advocacy. When Beth cares for her patients she always ensures they are receiving care that would be no less than her very own loved one would receive. Several months ago, Beth identified a significant gap in care for her patients who have a PleurX catheter. Historically, in the outpatient world of cancer care, nurses are not as familiar with how PleurX catheters work, which can have a negative impact on patient care. Beth realized this gap in understanding was a very serious quality and safety issue impacting patient outcomes. Beth led the charge in organizing a group of nurses to create tutorials with the PleurX drain vendor to create a nurse validation competency. Beth then worked with clinic leadership to create a small par of supplies to be kept on the unit, readily available when patients come in for office visits.

An additional key point that must be mentioned is that all patients who have a PleurX Catheter should have Home Health Services. In reality, this is not occurring due to our current state of health care with home health resources available and insurance approvals/authorizations. Beth worked with the interdisciplinary team and created a process for patients who do not have home health services to come into the clinic and receive in-office PleurX teaching, working with Interventional Radiology to ensure the patient is receiving proper care.

Secondly, Beth is one of the most compassionate nurses I have ever encountered. She truly takes an interest and engages with every patient she cares for. She takes the time to understand their needs and works to support them in all their needs. Her patients trust her and seek to lean on her for advice and guidance when they have a question. It is not uncommon for Beth to pull up a chair next to her patients, talk with them, educate them, and answer all questions when discharging them. They have her full attention as if nothing else matters, with her sweet smile helping to create a safe and trusted environment for her patients. Beth is empathetic and reassuring while listening to her patient's needs!

Lastly, I would be remiss not to mention what an amazing teammate Beth is. She is an extraordinary team player who fosters a workplace that is inclusive and welcoming. No matter what Beth has going on, numerous teammates have shared with me how she jumps right in when her colleagues need assistance no matter what the need is. I will share that recently there was a team outside of Beth's department who had a CRITICAL need. This was so critical we were running a risk of needing to limit clinics/patient appointments due to no nursing coverage, leading to patients not getting the care they needed. Beth took it upon herself to volunteer and go work in another clinic outside of her area for an 8-week period while the team recruited and hired a nurse. There was never, not one complaint from Beth, and she was happy to do this with a SMILE! For all these reasons listed above and countless others, Beth is a true DAISY Nurse and a great example to us all!