Marcy Autry, Northside Atlanta Hospital

For 22 years, Marcy Autry has cared for fragile babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Northside Hospital in Atlanta.

Working in intensive care wasn’t exactly what Autry had in mind when, at age 6, she told her sister she wanted to become a nurse when she grew up. Autry wasn’t sure how she would handle needles and such; she just knew she wanted to help others.

“I always felt in my heart to do for others. I find it important to help those who need it,” said the 31-year-old veteran nurse. “For sick babies, there is nothing like being able to do everything in their power to make their day as pleasant as possible, being able to leave at the end of a work day knowing that I did what I I could to help them.

That’s why Autry received an AJC Nursing Excellence Award on Tuesday. About 800 nurses were nominated, 10 of whom were honored.

Autry, 54, didn’t start her career in the NICU, but was drawn to the challenge of caring for the hospital’s youngest critically ill patients. She enjoys communicating with families, gaining their trust and defending their interests and those of their babies.

“When you have that trusting relationship with the family, they can really rely on you and you can help them through one of the worst times of their life,” she said.

Charge nurse Lauren Forkel observed how Autry cared for a newborn who suffered a severe brain injury and a grim prognosis.

It was unclear how long the child would survive, and Autry also cared for the family, answering heartbreaking questions about their deep fears of the unknown for their child. Despite the difficulty, Forkel said Autry would ask to care for this patient week after week.

“I don’t know many people in this world with the heart of steel that Marcy had for this family,” wrote Forkel, who nominated Autry for the award. “I know the difference she made to them. I know that the way she cared for the baby and the words of wisdom she gave them changed the way they loved their child – even if the time spent with her was brief.

Autry said nursing is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding in general, but can be more demanding in intensive care. Northside NICU nurses are quick to help each other.

“I’m so lucky to have this job and do what I do,” she said. “What I do is my local mission; I do not want it to be any other way.

Autry grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida, and now lives in Smyrna with her husband, Michael. Their daughter, Arden, is a freshman at Mississippi State University.