Melissa Bensken, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Sarah Bush Lincoln in March.
Bensken was nominated for going above and beyond to provide emotional support and guidance to a new nurse during her first year of practice. Here’s an excerpt from her nomination letter:
“Melissa continuously shows initiative, leadership and dedication not only to patients but to staff members as well. She always comes to work with a positive attitude and goes out of her way to address questions and find answers. She has made a measurable impact on all the nurses and care partners she works with.
I have been practicing for about a year now and every nurse knows just how difficult the first year of nursing is. As an individual, I am very hard on myself. One night I could not sleep due to a stressful few days at work and I just needed someone to talk to. When I asked to come to SBL at 3 am just to talk, Melissa didn’t hesitate to sit and listen to my problems and feelings of self-doubt -- she simply listened.
After shedding many tears, Melissa told me just how much she believed in me. At my lowest moment as a nurse, she built me back up and devoted her time to ensure that I saw myself how she sees me. She was not only my boss in that moment, but she was my friend. I am not sure where my career would be without her. She has definitely earned my respect and has become a true role model to me. I’m sure the rest of the 4 Medical staff feels this way as well. We are truly lucky to have her as part of our team!”
Sarah Bush Lincoln has joined more than 2,700 healthcare facilities by becoming a DAISY Award hospital partner. During the award presentation, Bensken 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.organd 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.orgor mail to Sarah Bush Lincoln, DAISY Nursing Award, 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938. For more information, contact SBL DAISY coordinator, Jamie Easton, RN, at (217) 238 -6255 or jeaston@sblhs.org.