ASHLAND – Nicole Stark-Lovejoy, RN, of UH Samaritan Medical Center, Medical-Surgical Unit, was recently honored with the hospital’s DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses.
The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the extraordinary efforts nurses perform every day.
The nomination submitted praised Nicole for “taking a patient from despair to hilarity.”
“Nicole’s wonderful sense of humor and professionalism preserved my dignity and made a truly horrendous situation tolerable. Her use of guided imagery while trying to start a new IV made all the pain fade. We made a connection.”
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.
“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at UH Samaritan Medical Center are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
Lisa Bushong, Chief Nursing Officer, UH Samaritan Medical Center said quality care is the goal of every caregiver at Samaritan.
“Nicole is a very compassionate and competent nurse who is very deserving of this meaningful recognition,” Bushong said.
If you would like to nominate your nurse at UH Samaritan Medical Center, go to http://www.daisynomination.org/4073.
In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 4,600 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.
