The DAISY Award, created byThe DAISY Foundation, is one of the most meaningful honors a nurse can receive. It recognizes nurses whose care leaves a lasting mark on patients and families. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help celebrate nurses whose compassion, dedication, and humanity shape the care experience in ways that are never forgotten.
Rosa, a recent DAISY Award honoree and oncology nurse, is one of those nurses.
Rosa has spent years supporting patients through some of the most vulnerable moments of cancer care. Her story reflects that nursing is often about much more than clinical care alone. It’s about helping people feel seen, informed, and supported when they need it the most.
Continue reading to learn more about Rosa’s journey into oncology nursing and the impact she continues to make every day.
Rosa’s Story, In Her Own Words
Receiving the DAISY Award
Receiving the DAISY Award was very humbling for me. I feel like I just do my job, so for someone to take the time to recognize my work and nominate me was very heartwarming. It meant a lot to know that something that I do every day made an impact on someone else.
My Journey Into Oncology Nursing
I’ve always felt like oncology nursing was my calling.
When I first graduated nursing school, I wanted to work in pediatric oncology. The closest facility for that was an hour away, and at that time, that commute just wasn’t realistic. I began to work in the emergency department which I spent ten years in, and five years in home care.
Even during that time, I always had this pull towards working with cancer patients.
When an opportunity came up at my cancer center in the infusion area, I knew immediately that this is where I was meant to be. It felt like home.
What It Means to Truly Show up for Patients
When patients are going through some of their most difficult moments, showing up does not always mean saying the right thing. Sometimes, no words are needed at all. Just sitting quietly with them is enough.
When I am working with newly diagnosed patients, especially those who are starting chemotherapy, I try my best to make the experience feel a little less overwhelming for them. Some of the things I do is personalize their binders, walk them through everything step by step, and make sure they have the space and comfort to ask questions.
I always make sure to call them after their first infusion. I check in to see how they are feeling and if there are any questions or concerns about what we went over. Time and time again, patients have shared how much that follow-up call means to them.
A Patient Moment I’ll Never Forget
A moment in my career that has stayed with me actually happened recently when I was helping facilitate an event honoring lung cancer survivors. As I was calling participants ahead of the event, one woman shared something I will never forget.
A few years ago, she was in the ICU with a collapsed lung from a tumor. I went to see her there to teach her about chemotherapy. At the time, she was very clear that she did not want to go through treatment.
After we talked, I explained that she could try it and can stop it anytime. I also shared some success stories from other lung cancer patients.
She decided to give it a chance.
Now, she is two years out from treatment and disease-free. She told me that if it hadn't been for that conversation, she would have never taken chemotherapy. That really stayed with me.
What People Don’t Realize About Oncology Nursing
Working with cancer patients is incredibly rewarding.
Before oncology, I worked in the emergency department, where I experienced a lot of frustration from patients – being yelled at, cussed at, and even spit at over wait times.
In oncology, it’s completely different.
I haven’t been yelled at in the 20 years I’ve worked in this field. Cancer patients have a different perspective on life. They understand what’s important and what’s not. They pick their battles wisely, and they are grateful for each moment and each day that they have.
That perspective changes you as a nurse.
How I Take Care of Myself
I have good days and challenging days.
What keeps me grounded during the tough times is my faith and friends. I have a deep personal relationship with God. I also have a strong network of friends I can turn to any time. Being able to talk things through and have the support makes a big difference.
What Continues to Give Me Hope
What continues to give me hope is people. Seeing lives change.
One of my favorite programs to be part of is called Get Real and Heal. It focuses on helping patients transition from active treatment into survivorship. We support them through exercise, nutrition, emotional health, and on-going followup care.
Helping patients take control of what they do with their bodies and what they put into their bodies plays such a big role in survivorship and reducing the risk of recurrence.
Being part of that journey, not just during treatment, but after, is something that means a lot to me.
Stories like Rosa’s are exactly why this work matters so much. At Care+Wear, we believe that honoring the people behind care is just as important as improving the care experience itself. Nurses shape some of the most vulnerable and meaningful moments in healthcare, and they deserve to be recognized for the impact they make every day. If a nurse has made a difference in your life or the life of someone you love, consider nominating them for a DAISY Award.
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