Pam Deley had just finished her second 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. night shift in a row. As she was leaving to go home and get some much-needed rest in preparation for a third night shift, she stopped to offer a sick co-worker a ride home.

“That’s just who I am,” Deley said. “No matter where I am, I feel comfortable helping.”

It was Deley’s desire to help people that has won her three Guardian Angel awards this year.

The Guardian Angel program at Provena Covenant Medical Center, 1400 W. Park St., gives patients and their families the opportunity to recognize a care provider they felt was especially attentive and helpful in their time of need by making a donation to the hospital in honor of this provider.

Trent Pelman, marketing and public relations coordinator at Provena, said the program has raised $4,710 since its inception. He said all of the donations go to the hospital’s impact funds, which are earmarked for the greatest needs of the hospital, as determined by the board of directors.

Deley, a registered nurse since 1985, has been with Provena since 1998. In that time she has not only won three Guardian Angel awards, but was also nominated twice for a RISE award (given to those who demonstrate Respect, Integrity, Stewardship and Excellence) by her peers, and was named Oncology Nurse of the Year in 2008.

Deley said her true rewards are the compassion, understanding, acceptance, strength and courage she has learned from working with the patients.

“I feel like I’m a better person from learning from all these people,” Delay said.

Deley, 57, was born and raised in Urbana, and knew she wanted to be a nurse since she was in fifth grade.

Prior to coming to Provena, Deley was the director of nursing at Americana Nursing Home but working in administration made her miss the patients, and family issues with cancer caused her to switch directions.

“My father had gotten sick and died of cancer, and I just felt a calling to work in a hospital and care for cancer patients,” Deley said.

According to Deley, many people ask her how she finds the strength to work with so many end-of-life patients and their families, but those close to Deley said there is no one better to do the job.

Her supervisor, Sharon Cemashko, said patients are drawn to Deley.

“She’s made this her life’s work,” Cemashko said. “She’s the perfect blend of skill, experience and compassion.”

Deley’s daughter, Erica Hughes, said in addition to what Deley does at the hospital, she is compassionate and helpful in all areas of her life, including with her family and at her church.

“She’s so very good at what she does,” Hughes said. “It takes a very special person to do what she does.”

Still, Deley views her job as a privilege.

“I feel honored to be able to help care for these people,” Deley said. “I can’t imagine doing anything else in my life.”