Jan Embry, RN, Quality and Safety Coordinator at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital and a board-certified gerontological nurse, received St. Mary's system-wide DAISY Award for nursing excellence on Oct. 23 for providing extraordinary care to a couple who suffered a medical crisis while on the road.

While the husband received emergency care, Jan worked to calm the wife, bringing her into her office and spending the time it took to build a trusting relationship. The story ended well, with the patient being discharged the next day and the couple returning home safely.

"Jan went above and beyond to ease the fear and worry caused by the situation, for both the patient and his loved one," Nursing Director Kimberly Tyler said. "All staff made sure they received great care, but Jan went the extra mile to ensure both felt safe and comfortable. Great teamwork!"

Jan grew up in Martinez and now lives in Eatonton. She attributes her passion for nursing to her nursing school advisor, Alice Loper, RN, who urged her to work as a nursing assistant before becoming a nurse so that she would appreciate the hard work they do.

"I went to nursing school because I wanted to work with the elderly," Jan says, adding that her caregiver's heart first appeared when she was a little girl, doting on her younger brother after he developed a seizure disorder. "I have always had a passionate respect for our elderly population. They all helped make our country what it is today, and I think we should want to take care of them now when they are in need."

Outside of work, Jan is active in the community, serving as a lay speaker in Eatonton-area churches through First United Methodist Church and teaching hand hygiene to preschoolers, a volunteer role she has been doing since her own children were in preschool.

The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day. Inspired by the care delivered to a dying young man, the DAISY Foundation partners with some 3,900 hospitals and schools in all 50 states and 22 nations to honor extraordinary nurses

At St. Mary's, each DAISY Award honoree is recognized at a public ceremony on her/his unit with a certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a hand-carved sculpture entitled "A Healer's Touch." In addition, everyone on the unit is invited to help celebrate the occasion with cinnamon rolls, a favorite of the young man whose nurses inspired the creation of the DAISY Foundation.

Nurses can be nominated by anyone, including patients, patient's family members, physicians or colleagues. Any nurse in the St. Mary's system – including those at all three hospitals as well as medical group offices – is eligible. The nomination simply asks you to share your story of why a particular nurse is special to you. Eight nurses will be honored each year. Nomination forms can be obtained from St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital Nursing Administration Office or by calling 706.389.3238.