Jason Duhamell, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Sarah Bush Lincoln on May 27.
Duhamell was nominated by a co-worker for going above and beyond to provide empathetic care at the end of a patient’s life. His nominator shared the following story:
“I have the pleasure of working with a fantastic group of nurses, care partners, clerical and support staff at Sarah Bush Lincoln. One of those individuals is Jason Duhamell, RN. During a day shift, Jason was the charge nurse when he received a critically ill patient. Jason was caring, compassionate and very calm as the patient’s health declined rapidly. Jason stayed by this patient’s side and provided attentive care for the majority of the evening. He made sure this person felt important and cared for while also providing care to the other patients on the floor.
Jason was quick to respond when the patient’s condition deteriorated. He used his resources and remained in control of the situation. He demonstrated compassionate care and great advocacy to his patient. This patient could not have had a more qualified and empathetic nurse at the end of life. This is just one example of how Jason cares for each of his patients. When he is not at work, he dedicates his time serving as the kitchen director for the Haven Homeless Shelter working selflessly for the betterment of the community.”
Sarah Bush Lincoln has joined more than 2,700 healthcare facilities by becoming a DAISY Award hospital partner. During the award presentation, Duhamell 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 receive 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, SBL DAISY interim coordinator, Tracey McCord, RN, at (217) 238-4987 or tmccord@sblhs.org.