I would like to nominate Ann Martin RN, for The DAISY Award. In order to nominate someone for the honor of having their picture posted in a prominent location, and receive the other rewards that come with being recognized as a DAISY Award winner, there must be a justification. In order to justify my nomination, I would like to describe what I believe a DAISY Award winning nurse is, and what qualities that nurse had in such a way that others could model that behavior. A patient was brought into the Emergency Department by the ambulance that had been quite ill for several days. Her two sons found her in quite a bit of distress and had been trying to take care of her at home. When they realized that she was not getting better, they called the ambulance to bring her into the hospital. When she arrived in the emergency room, her breathing was more of what would be described as gasping. The usual tests were completed and the ED physician and the hospitalist were seen standing at the foot of her bed with the two sons, trying to determine what the best course of action was for her. It was decided that she needed to be admitted for comfort care, but that there really was nothing that could be done for her medically to spare her life. The physicians estimated that at best she would live maybe twelve hours. The physician turned to me and stated that she did not qualify for ICU, as all they were going to order was comfort measures, but wanted to know what the situation was on the medical floor. I told the physician that I had a room reserved where the family could be with her, and I had asked Ann to come in from home and this would be her only patient. The physician then relaxed as he stated that was the very best thing that could happen to this patient and family. Ann arrived at the hospital as the patient was arriving on the unit. She set the family at ease as she described how she was going to get her settled in the room. Ann with the assistance of Chandra not only cleaned the patient up, but also massaged her with lotion and combed her hair. When the family entered the room, the patient was as comfortable as Ann could make her. Ann busied herself getting the family comfortable in the room, and then obtained snacks and drinks to keep the family comfortable as they awaited the expected demise of their mother. I completed all the required paperwork and waited for the call that she had passed. The call never came. The next morning as I was walking down the hall, I noted one of the sons leaning over the bed to ask his mother how she was doing. I heard her high little voice from within her oxygen mask state, “I’m doing just fine” I do not know what the long term outcome will be, but it certainly was not any medical intervention that brought the aging mother to the place that she could tell her son that she was doing fine. Ann is noted to be the kind of nurse that can take on the patients with the seemingly hopeless infections or sores or other conditions people find themselves in and with her dedication and compassion, do what medicine cannot, and help them heal. That is why I nominate Ann Martin for the DAISY Award. W.Larry Hamilton
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