In April, the wife of a home health patient nominated VNH employee Kayla Thompson, LPN for the Daisy Award for the thoughtful care she provided to her husband during a lengthy recovery. In May, we were honored to present Kayla the Daisy Award in a surprise celebration.
In the award nomination letter, the patient’s wife stated, “We were blessed with the care provided by Kayla during my husband’s lengthy recovery from vascular surgery. Providing care in a person’s home levels the “nursing” field, with Kayla always able to find the balance. She provided thoughtful care, taking the time to listen while looking for ways to help my husband make better health choices. She used his sense of humor as a way to engage him in care but more importantly distract him during wound care, which was often a lengthy and uncomfortable process. There were many up and downs in his recovery with Kayla often the person who advocated for him with his DHMC team assuring concerns were addressed and on two occasions her strong assessment skills resulted in an admission to the hospital. She made him feel “happy, respected, listened to, cared for and encouraged.” As his wife, I was struck by her professionalism, ability to engage him even on his “worst days”, and her advocacy.”
Kayla has wanted to be a nurse since she was 16 and receiving this award was an unexpected surprise. She enjoys making a difference in people’s lives during what is often a challenging time for them. A sense of accomplishment for her is putting a smile on a patient’s face and seeing the progress her patients make while under her care. Kayla stated, “I work every day to be the best nurse I can and strive daily to be a role model for my patients and others. I want to be an inspiration to them.”
About The DAISY Award
The Daisy Award is an international program that celebrates the skillful compassionate care nurses provide every day. Every DAISY Award winner is recognized with a celebration in their department and receives a beautiful certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a hand-carved stone sculpture titled “A Healer’s Touch.” They also receive cinnamon rolls.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock is proud to be a DAISY Award Hospital partner since 2011. The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after he died from complications of the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) in 1999. DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system. During Pat’s hospitalization, the family deeply appreciated the care and compassion shown by the nurses. When Pat died, the family felt compelled to say “thank you” to nurses in a very public way, and they established The DAISY Award in Pat’s honor.