By: Erik Pedersen, Content Strategy Director
BALTIMORE – A current master’s student in Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Nursing was presented with The DAISY Nurse Leader Award in recognition of her commitment to clinical excellence and compassionate care.
Suja Prashant M’24 received the award during a ceremony at University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC), where she works as a clinical coordinator on an observation floor. Suja is currently enrolled in NDMU’s Leadership in Nursing Administration master’s program.
The DAISY Nurse Leader Award was created to highlight nurses in leadership positions across the United States and the world who create an environment where compassionate, skillful care thrives. Suja was the lone 2023 recipient of the award at UM BWMC.
“It was a total surprise – I received it in front of the entire leadership team,” Suja said. “It was a very proud moment for me. This organization has given me chances to grow professionally every year. I’m thankful to all of the leaders who have influenced and motivated me to move my career forward.”
Suja joined UM BWMC as a telemetry nurse in 2013, and she was promoted to her clinical coordinator position last year. In her current role, she focuses on using quality and safety indicator data to help ensure that patients have a positive experience during their stay. She also serves as a resource to staff members, providing education, counseling and other general support to those working on the unit.
Suja has over 20 years of experience in the profession, and as her career continued to progress, she explored going back to school for a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to support that advancement. Other nurses at UM BWMC helped direct her to Notre Dame to continue her education.
“A lot of colleagues that I know here – my managers, my directors – they have earned their MSN from Notre Dame, and they all spoke highly about the program,” Suja said. “I also liked that the program was in person. That allows you to really connect with people and build relationships with them.”
Suja’s favorable impression of NDMU continued once she began taking courses in the Leadership in Nursing Administration MSN program.
“Notre Dame has very resourceful, experienced, and knowledgeable professors,” she said. “They understand their students. We are graduate students, so we all have our own job responsibilities as we try to balance the school work, but all of the professors are understanding and flexible. They really support us.”
Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
