Erica Smedberg, RN, Intensive Care Unit, 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.
Smedberg was nominated by a patient’s family who wrote:
“Dad was brought into the ICU from the Ripon ER. My brother and I were emotionally and physically worn in all the testing and understanding of all that was happening. Without question, Erica took noticeable time to make sure we understood who my dad was going to see, the procedures that could/would occur, the seriousness of the decisions to be made, while also making each of us comfortable, humoring my dad and being able to have enjoyable conversations that brought normalcy to the situation. My mom was unable to be present at the time my dad was taken in (she was in Florida) and she took the time and care to have hard, but heartfelt and informative conversations with her about what was happening. When my mom arrived, Erica went out of her way to introduce herself and talk with her when she was off shift on her way out and no longer assigned to my dad’s room. She made a huge difference.”
Smedberg 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.
