Elizabeth Davis, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Sarah Bush Lincoln on April 12.
Davis was nominated by her co-workers for being a great leader and always going above and beyond to provide exceptional care to her patients. In a nomination letter, her co-workers wrote:
“Elizabeth started working on the Adult Care Unit at Sarah Bush Lincoln in June 2005. Throughout her employment she has been a shining star who is loved by many co-workers, patients and their family members. She is currently working on 3 East where she provides direct patient care, precepts new employees and serves as Charge Nurse. In addition to her work as a nurse, Elizabeth is active in her church and community. It is rare, almost never, that she is not mentioned during discharge phone calls like the examples below:
‘It’s nice to meet a nurse that does more than just vitals and give injections. My nurse could tell I was angry and agitated about the circumstances that had brought me to the hospital. We talked a while and then she asked if she could say a prayer for me. I was very moved and grateful!’
‘My nurse was amazing and so caring. I have never had a nurse like that. I just loved my nurse and couldn’t wait for her to come in my room again.’
“This is just a small sample of the comments received by patients regarding Elizabeth. Not only do patients love her, so do all her co-workers. She is an amazing resource on the floor, a ‘go-to’ for questions or help with tough situations. Elizabeth does not shy away from difficult conversations or situations. Instead, she meets them head on, with a positive attitude.
“One day after caring for a difficult patient, Elizabeth was visibly exhausted, but stated ‘I am glad God brought this difficult situation to me. I learned a lot and met a wonderful person (her patient.)’ She is such a great role model who exhibits patience, a positive attitude, and always speaks kindly about others. All staff members on 3 East are extremely grateful to have our DAISY nurse as part of the team because she is an inspiration to us.”
Sarah Bush Lincoln has joined more than 2,700 healthcare facilities by becoming a DAISY Award hospital partner. During the award presentation, Davis received a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a unique, hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture from Zimbabwe, entitled, “A Healer’s Touch.”
The DAISY Award was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system.) 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 families.
Patients, visitors, nurses, physicians and other employees may nominate a deserving nurse for The Daisy Award and a nurse will be selected by SBL’s DAISY committee every month to received this special honor. Nomination forms are located at www.sarahbush.org and at all SBL clinics and on patient floors. The forms can be submitted to any Sarah Bush Lincoln staff member, or sent via email to daisy@sblhs.org or mail to Sarah Bush Lincoln, DAISY Nursing Award, 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938. For more information, contact SBL DAISY coordinator, Cynthia Edwards, RN, at (217) 238 -3422 or cedwards@sblhs.org.