Elisa Goes, RN, 5 West, has been named a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses winner at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from 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 patient families.
Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen based on specific criteria to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented to one recipient on a quarterly basis at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors.
Goes was nominated by a patient’s family member, who wrote:
“My mom has PSP, a rare neurological disease in the Parkinson’s family. This leaves her mostly immobile, unable to move her eyes up and down, and communication is very difficult; yet she comprehends just about everything that’s said and happens around her. Elisa was her very skilled and compassionate nurse, whose shifts fortunately coincided nicely with a good portion of my mom’s stay. Not only did she take the time to research my mom’s uncommon disease on her own so she could better understand her needs, but each time also she came into the room she never once spoke past my mom. Elisa spoke to my mom with the patience, dignity, and respect my mother appreciates and deserves. When our family was in the room, she actively listened to any questions, concerns, really anything we had to say, with the same patience and respect. And if those things alone weren’t enough, she approached my dad while he was out of the room waiting while the doctors were doing some assessments on my mom to recognize and affirm his dedication to all he does out of love for my mom. Elisa’s adeptness, kindness, gentleness, and attentiveness come from the heart and bring warmth and comfort to already uncomfortable situations. We may have only known her for a few days, but I can tell she is a gift to the nursing profession. Anyone who ends up in her care is fortunate.”
Goes was recently recognized during a brief ceremony. She received a certificate commending her as an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin, and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” according to Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, president and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses St. Agnes Hospital are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.
