Justine Funneman, BSN, RN, was recently honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Sarah Bush Lincoln. She received the award for acting promptly to help someone who had suffered a stroke. Her nominator wrote:
“I had just arrived to work at 1500 and was getting a new admission at the same time. Upon the patient’s arrival, the care partner stated the patient’s left side was flaccid. This was not relayed to me during report, as the patient was admitted for something entirely different. An MRI had been ordered, but we were unsure why.
While I was attempting to clarify orders and review results, Justine offered to do a neuro assessment on the patient, and she noted the left side was flaccid, had no grip strength and asymmetrical facial characteristics. The patient already had a CT that showed possible ischemia. An MRI was ordered for the patient, but it was delayed until after 7pm. Justine did not hesitate to ARC it up to the house supervisor while I notified the provider. The provider initiated a code stroke and it was decided to take the patient to MRI immediately. The MRI confirmed that this patient had several acute infarcts/strokes.
Justine’s prompt assistance and assessment were crucial in confirming a diagnosis sooner rather than later which prevented further decompensation of this patient! It also allowed Neurology to quickly assess and prescribe necessary medications. I believe her advocating for my patient and actions made a huge difference in this patient’s overall clinical outcome!”
Sarah Bush Lincoln has joined more than 2,700 healthcare facilities by becoming a DAISY Award hospital partner.
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, volunteer nurse coordinator, Tracey McCord, RN, at (217) 238-4987 or tmccord@sblhs.org.