Exceptional Nurses Recognized with DAISY Award®
9/13/2021
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Lutheran Health Network (LHN) nurses make a difference daily and are key to providing a positive patient experience. The DAISY Award recognizes exceptional care, compassion and dedication. Patients, families and colleagues may nominate nurses from any LHN hospital, urgent care clinic or Lutheran Health Physicians office for this award.
The following stories highlight LHN’s most recent DAISY Award recipients:
Sarah Wall, RN, IBCLC
Lactation
Dupont Hospital
Fort Wayne, IN
Sarah was nominated by a patient who came to her for lactation consultation after having her second child. Due to a poor lactation experience with her first child, the patient was anxious and feared that she would have the same experience again. After receiving recommendations from friends, the patient went to see Sarah. Sarah provided the patient with hope, encouragement and valuable information to help her care for her newborn. The patient’s fears were put at ease and she was more confident in herself. “She helps new moms take the leap into motherhood with reassurance and confidence. Over and over she would tell me that I am made for this, that I can do this, and that I am a great mother. It is so often when a baby is born it seems that the mother fades into the background as everything now becomes about the baby. Sarah helped me see that my well-being is just as important,” said the patient.
Elizabeth Stedwell, RN
Med/Surg
Dukes Memorial Hospital
Peru, IN
Elizabeth was nominated by a patient for her soothing demeanor and ability to work under pressure. These qualities that Elizabeth demonstrated gracefully made a positive impact on the patient’s experience. In nominating Elizabeth, the patient said, “In the middle of chaos, Liz is calm. In the middle of stress, she is peaceful. It’s like having your mom take care of you when you were little, that’s how safe she makes you feel. Liz has been blessed with a double dose of compassion and empathy.”
Amber Auriti, RN
Med/Surg
Lutheran Hospital
Fort Wayne, IN
After working as the charge nurse during the night shift, Amber stayed past her shift to help the day shift team members. Critical patients had many urgent needs that Amber helped satisfy.
When thanking this nurse for staying, she was extremely positive and said, “We are a team and it’s about patient care.” Amber ensured her teams’ ability to continue high quality safe patient care in a very fast-paced and efficient way. Even as a new nurse, Amber always models a positive attitude and thinks about patient and staff safety first.
Danielle Gaylord, RN
Med/Surg
Lutheran Hospital
Fort Wayne, IN
During a shift where Danielle was charge nurse for the unit, she spent an extended amount of time keeping a long-term patient who was actively passing away comfortable and pain-free. The patient’s family was facing a very difficult situation as the diagnosis was terminal. After the patient passed, Danielle spent time with the spouse who shared appreciation for Danielle being a fantastic, compassionate nurse.
Mariah Perry, RN
Med/Surg
Lutheran Hospital
Fort Wayne, IN
Mariah provided exceptional support during a recent shift by assisting with several important tasks including critical orders. Mariah focused on supporting her team and ensuring all critical patients were cared for. When thanking her, Mariah said, “We are a team and that’s what we do for each other.” With this positive attitude and her extra efforts, Mariah showed her strong leadership qualities and drive to ensure all patients were taken care of safely.
Shelbie Parish, RN
Med/Surg
Lutheran Hospital
Fort Wayne, IN
Shelbie was nominated for a DAISY award for her exceptionally caring and compassionate nature. For example, after caring for an elderly patient who had reached the end of life, she went to the gift shop where she bought the patient’s family flowers and a remembrance blanket. She set the room up and covered the patient with the blanket. Upon the family’s arrival at the hospital, they were very touched by the flowers. The wife of the patient explained that her husband always bought her the exact kind of purple flowers that Shelbie bought every year for their anniversary. Shelbie also ensures that if it is her patient’s birthday, she gets them a birthday present.
Stephanie Glassley, RN
Med/Surg
Bluffton Regional Medical Center
Bluffton, IN
Stephanie was nominated by a patient for being kind, nurturing, careful and helpful with many tasks who also helped with an emergency delivery of a newborn. Both the patient and her husband were very impressed in Stephanie’s abilities as a nurse and thanked her many times for doing an amazing job.
The DAISY Foundation™ is a not-for-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. In late 1999, Patrick died at the age of 33 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon autoimmune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique way of thanking those professionals for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and their families.
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