Grace McCartt, a registered nurse who provides care in the Emergency Department at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital, has received St. Mary’s DAISY Award for Nursing Excellence. She was nominated by the daughter of an elderly patient whose dementia and other health issues required especially high levels of patience and compassion.

“Grace is such a beautiful young lady who possessed an extraordinary skill for working with elderly patients,” the daughter said in nominating McCartt. “She was so patient and kind, but the trait that stood out most to me was her compassion. Mom is very proud and Grace went above and beyond to preserve Mom’s dignity under very dire conditions. Her patience was astonishing. It was just heaven-sent that she was the one attending to my Mom. I will forever be grateful that God placed her in our path,” the daughter concluded.

“Grace truly exemplifies the commitment of nurses across our ministry to provide high-level care with higher-level caring,” said Ann Gomes, director of Orthopedics and chair of St. Mary’s DAISY Award Committee. “Nurses are trained in how to provide care to challenging patients, but Grace went further. The care she provided to this patient and family demonstrates the beauty of combining training with heart-felt reverence for the sacredness of the person you are serving. We’re so happy she is part of our ministry.”

McCartt is a resident of Winder who joined St. Mary’s in 2022.