It is with great honor that we nominate Clara Dunn for the DAISY Award, recognizing her outstanding collaboration, compassion, and dedication to patient care. Clara has gone above and beyond in working closely with us (child life and music therapy) to create unique and joyful interventions for our patients and families, demonstrating the true power of teamwork.

In one instance, our patient was facing significant challenges due to their illness, and we wanted to provide an uplifting, positive experience that would allow the patient to feel a sense of normalcy and fun. We created a “Dancing with the Stars” intervention and asked Clara what would be the best time to implement the therapeutic intervention with the patient. Without being asked, she immediately told us a time and said she would love to participate. All day, she was running around, but anytime she saw us, she still made sure to say, “3 pm, I’ll be there!” Clara’s input in coordinating the patient’s care, managing any medical needs during the activity, and ensuring the patient’s comfort was invaluable. In addition, her dance moves earned her a 10/10 score from the patient. When she said she would love to participate, she was not kidding. This collaboration not only brought a sense of joy to the patient but also allowed the entire family to share in a moment of lighthearted connection during a challenging time. It was the first time in a long time that we saw this patient smile, laugh, and truly engage with staff.

Equally remarkable was Clara’s role in supporting during a deeply emotional end-of-life situation. This patient was a long-term patient of 6 Tower that many staff had gotten close to, including us. Once admitted, the patient went from joking around to no longer being responsive within hours. Due to the rapid decline, it was important to her sister, who had become her primary caregiver after the death of their mother, to start memory-making as soon as possible. We ended up spending close to five hours completing heart beat recordings, handprints, fingerprint charms, hand molds, and more.

Throughout the entire time, Clara did not skip a beat in making sure to provide comfort and assistance not only to the family but also to us. Her compassionate presence, emotional support, and ability to coordinate with the team ensured the family’s needs were met with dignity and care. Her collaboration allowed us to complete memory-making with ease despite the difficult situation. We had worked with this patient for over three years and truly do not feel that we would have been able to get through the day without Clara’s support. She was there for us during the hours of memory making, walked us out once we were done for the day, and made sure to check in with us once the patient had passed just a few hours later. She expressed to us that it was an honor to be a part of the memory making process with us, but truly the honor is ours.

Clara is a one-of-a-kind nurse who is there for her patients, families, and co-workers. With each of her patients, she goes above and beyond to ensure the patients' physical, emotional, and psychological needs are met. We are so grateful