Dawnell Sears, License Practical Nurse of Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, Braxton County Community Based Outpatient Clinic, was recently presented with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.
The nomination submitted: “The staff at the VA Outpatient Clinic is outstanding!! We had a minor emergency visiting the area. My stepdad who is an Army Veteran did not bring enough insulin to last the weekend. I called and spoke with Tracy at the Call Center, and she suggested we come to the Sutton Clinic. Dawnell greeted us at the car and helped my stepdad get inside. Amber was very efficient in getting his PA info pulled over into their system. Dr. Troy was able to call in a prescription to the local CVS for pick-up. Dawnell walked us back outside to the car. Excellent experience and quality care!! Thank you!”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. 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. 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.
Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation states, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at [hospital] are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
John Anderson, Chief Nurse of Outpatient Services, stated, “The DAISY Award has been at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center for a year now and has been awarded to 6 nurses that go above and beyond every day just like Dawnell does, here at the Braxton CBOC. We are grateful to have such nurses at our facility that care so much for the Veterans. The DAISY Award allows us to slow down and let nurses know that their hard work is not going unnoticed, and that the VA would not be in the place it is without nurses like Dawnell. We are grateful to have the DAISY Award program at our facility.”