Rutland Regional Medical Center Nurses Honored with DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

RUTLAND, VT – Recently, Rutland Regional Medical Center’s Nursing Excellence Team honored four extraordinary nurses with the DAISY Award. The ceremony, which took place in the hospital’s CVPS/Leahy Community Health Education Center, was attended by nursing staff, providers, and leaders. Family members of the awardees were also in attendance. The DAISY Award was given out for the following categories: DAISY Individual Award; DAISY Educator Award; DAISY Leader Award.

The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation was started in Glen Allen, California by family members of J. Patrick Barnes, who died from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. As a way of thanking the nurses who cared for Barnes, his family established the DAISY award program to recognize nurses who demonstrate exceptional care and support.

DAISY Individual Award Honorees are selected and recognized for the extraordinary and compassionate care that they provide to patients in their practice environment. RRMC recognized two nurses with the DAISY Individual Award.

Deb Brown, ASN, RN, Psychiatric Services Inpatient Unit (PSIU): Deb was nominated by a patient who was helped through a very anxious stage when unable to connect with a loved one. “She took me to a private room and got my phone out of storage. It took about 15-minutes, but I was able to reach my husband.” The patient noted that though Deb was busy, she showed the patient much care and kindness. “It may seem like a small act, but it meant that I could put my fear to rest, and I had a much better day as a result of it.”

Sydney Soren, BSN, RN, Emergency Department: Sydney was nominated by the new parents of an infant who needed care. The parents were understandably distressed but “Sydney made a point to not only see our child as the patient, but she had a holistic approach and made sure that we were also taken care of. She was honest and transparent with us about what was going on. She never spoke down to us, never invalidated a single feeling we were having, and was a rock for us to lean on that night. She gave me the room to breathe, cry, and let everything out. We are all home now. Safe and healing, but through this whole ordeal, I will remember Sydney’s kindness more than anything.” Additionally, Sydney packed snacks for the parents for their transport to children’s hospital in Boston.

RRMC presented one DAISY Educator Award, which honors recipients for their exceptional communication skills including active listening, collaborative working styles, mentorship, adaptability, and commitment to learning and professional development.

Melodie Walker, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CCRC
While serving as the Nurse Educator for the ICU/PCU/Central Telemetry departments, Melodie was nominated by a hospital leader and a staff member who recognized her “unwavering commitment to our units and the ways in which she excels at her job.” Melodie continually offers kind words and support and is always on top of her game.”

DAISY Leader Awards honor a nurse leader who is a strong role model, and creates an environment where compassion, trust, and respect are valued. These nurse leaders support professional development and motivate their staff with a shared vision and focus on improved outcomes.

Karen Ferreira, BSN, RN, RN-BC
While serving as the Director of SCU and the Float Pool, Karen was nominated by a staff member who expressed great appreciation for her exceptional leadership over the past 10 years. Although she is now in a different position, Karen’s calm and approachable demeanor remains impactful. In the nomination the staff member stated, “Simply put, Karen inspires us all to do our very best no matter what. She creates an environment of compassion and truly values each and every one of us. She is a positive influence and role model for all of us.”

“This truly is an exceptional group of very deserving nurses,” said Carole “Gert” Mayes, Manager of Nursing Excellence at Rutland Regional Medical Center. “They each bring their unique skills to the clinical teams, and help to not only elevate the care team, but also elevate the patient care environment.”

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