Maria was nominated for her caring demeanor, patience, and attentiveness. Many patients have asked for her presence to stay and hold their hands in time of grief. Maria goes above and beyond to help our malnourished patients regain their appetite; she connects emotionally and demonstrates a caring attitude to all patients. Maria is also a great leader on and off the unit. When she is not providing care to our patients she participates in the customer service rounds, the nursing professional practice council and core measure committee. She even cooks and bakes for her team. She always reacts to stressful situations with a smile and welcomes new graduates.