Four Extraordinary Nurses Recognized with DAISY Awards 12/09/2009
Four Nurses at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical
Center have been honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. The
award, presented in collaboration with The American Organization of Nurse
Executives (AONE) is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the
super-human efforts nurses perform every day.
Holly Delatte, RN is a nurse supervisor. She was recognized for taking the
time to truly listen to a patient with very special needs. She went above and
beyond to develop a plan of care centered around the patient’s meals and
medication. She worked closely with the patient to ensure that the plan met his
needs and took the time to make sure everyone on the care team fully understood
the plan. Holly’s actions allowed this patient to earn a better understanding of
his illness and develop a better plan for care upon discharge.
Patricia Ramirez, RN went above and beyond to provide care to a young surgery
patient who was always alone and needed many operations. As Patricia was helping
this patient prepare for her first surgery she took the time to explain what was
going to happen and helped calm the patient down. Patricia visited the patient
on her time off and even gave the patient a pampering kit, manicure and
pedicure. These actions by Patricia gave this patient much comfort during a
difficult time.
Kym McCoy, MSN, RN spent a great deal of time caring for a cancer patient and
got to know him and his wife and son. Several months passed and the patient was
readmitted with a poor prognosis. The patient requested Kym by name and asked
that she remain his nurse and administer palliative care. Kym stayed by his side
until the end and provided much needed support for this patient’s family.
Jill LeBlanc, LPN was caring for a patient with a touch of Alzheimer’s. The
patient’s husband was always at her bedside and kept telling the care team that
she would not eat. Jill worked closely with the patient and found that she would
only eat very soft foods such as pudding. Jill called on a dietician to adjust
the patient’s diet to meet her nutrition needs and then worked with the
patient’s husband to help him understand how to feed his wife. These actions
helped the patient resume some of her dignity and independence.
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was
established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died
at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic
Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune
disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was
ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound
difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. For more
information on the DAISY Foundation visit www.DAISYfoundation.org.
