DAISY Award: Comfort for in a family crisis

Having a loved one in the hospital is difficult for any family, but when that loved one is facing an especially critical illness, a compassionate nurse can ease minds and warm hearts.

So it went for the family of one father experiencing a serious and, for them, frightening medical condition. Fortunately, he was being cared for at Asante Three Rivers’ Intermediate Care Unit. His care team included longtime nurse Jenna Williams, whose skill and demeanor earned her the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

“My sister and I were in awe of how peaceful the IMCU facilities are,” said the family member, who nominated Williams for the award. After a warm handoff from the charge nurse and a CNA, Williams briefed the family on their father’s medical status. She took care to translate medical terminology into language non-clinicians could understand.

“Jenna put us at ease at once,” the family member wrote. “She was kind, empathetic and generous with her update.” As their father’s condition improved and his cognition returned, Williams’ sense of humor was a welcome relief.

“What I found most remarkable was her sense of comradery for his care. It felt as though she was really on his team, without an ounce of judgment,” the family member wrote. “I feel very lucky that Jenna was working the IMCU that day and relieved that she was with him in the most critical hours of his recovery.”

Patients and others may nominate nurses for a DAISY at any Asante hospital, based on factors including care of and compassion for patients and their loved ones.

The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 in honor of Patrick Barnes, who died in Seattle of idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura. His parents created the DAISY Foundation (DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system) to recognize nurses for the exceptional care they provided their son during his illness. Hospitals around the world have since adopted the program.