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

RUTLAND, VT – Recently, Rutland Regional Medical Center’s Education and Clinical Excellence Team and Nursing Shared Governance honored four extraordinary nurses with the DAISY 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.

The awards 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 and DAISY Team Award.

The 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.

Grace Russell, BSN, RN, Emergency Department (ED)

Grace was nominated by a peer for going above and beyond to help a patient. The patient came into the ED soaked from the rain with a very low body temperature. In addition to caring for the patient’s medical needs, “Grace gathered all of the patient’s belongings, and washed and dried them. Grace took it upon herself to ensure that when this patient was discharged, they would have clean and dry clothes to leave in.”

Kathleen Edgerton, BSN, RN, Endoscopy

Kathleen was nominated by a patient. The patient shared that Kathleen immediately began reducing their anxiety by introducing herself, providing warm blankets, using a lighthearted yet reassuring tone to explain the upcoming procedure, expertly inserting the intravenous line, and ensuring privacy. “When answering my questions, [Kathleen] would turn to make eye contact with me, which demonstrates respect for a person. My daughter has recently been accepted into a first-year nursing program, [and] I pointed to Kathleen as the goal to achieve as a nurse. She made me feel safe and secure. Her manner is above and beyond any I have seen before. She truly is an angel upon this Earth.”

The DAISY Team Award honors the collaboration by two or more people, led by a nurse, who identify and meet go above and beyond to meet a patient or family need.

Wendy Mullett, ASN, RN and Marcia Baker-McNally, BSN, RN

Wendy and Marcia were nominated by a patient’s family. While working evenings in the Ambulatory Care Unit/Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Wendy and Marcia worked together to help a patient during a tough recovery from anesthesia. “They went for special heating pads” to help with the patient’s pain and ensured they were safe and treated appropriately. Although the patient was the last one in recovery, the family stated that they did not feel, “rushed out.” “We were nervous to bring to our daughter home,” the family said, “but they made sure she was ready, and we were too before we left.” This was a difficult day for our daughter and “[these nurses] were beyond kind in response to the seriousness of this situation. They are beyond remarkable!”

“This truly is an exceptional group of very deserving nurses,” said Helen Papeika, Sr. Director of Education & Clinical Excellence at Rutland Regional Medical Center. “Each nurse brings their unique skills to the clinical teams. They help elevate the care team and the patient care environment.”