MACON, Ga. — On the second floor of Piedmont Macon, you can find Hannah Ujfalusy in the progressive care unit.
People say Ujfalusy is one in a billion, and you can hear her infectious laugh throughout the whole floor.
Ujfalusy is a charge nurse on Four East and was recognized by the Daisy Foundation for being an extraordinary nurse and going above and beyond for her patients.
"I just love coming to work every day and knowing I'm making a difference," Ujfalusy said.
National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, and Ujfalusy is turning heads nationally.
The Daisy Award is a national award granted to nurses who provide patients and families with compassion and clinical care.
Ujfalusy says it's a group effort but it's the little things that add up to a better experience for her patients.
"I made a difference because of this today," Ujfalusy said. "In a lot of jobs, you maybe see a difference over a long period of time of something you did, but I feel every day like I go home good or bad like I did make a difference one way or another."
Michael Gatto has been Ujfalusy patient for two weeks.
Gatto just got out of heart surgery and says Ujfalusy was helping him before being assigned to him.
"She's one of the nicest, one of the most uplifting ones for sure, always smiling happy and definitely happy you know before and after," Gatto said.
Ujfalusy would constantly check on Gatto's vitals, check to see if he had enough water and help him get back to health.
"There's not a time that goes by, not an hour that goes by that they're not walking in to check on something, give me something, makes sure I'm comfortable," Gatto said. "For having to stay for heart surgery, it's been the best you'd probably ask for. It's a lot, they're taking their lives to save mine and I'm just beyond grateful. What people say about this hospital and being one of the best heart hospitals, it's true."
Taylor Rigsby is her clinical manager and says not many can take care of the patients and their families with consistent positivity like Ujfalusy.
"She just has a contagious smile and laugh," Rigsby said. "She's always in a very pleasant mood which is very encouraging for the patients to see just joy in an environment where there's not always a lot of joy."
Anyone can nominate nurses for The Daisy Award.
Nominations come from patients, family members, other nurses, or staff.