Hannah Stone
April 2026
Hannah
Stone
,
BSN, RN
7 Central Ortho/Neuro/Trauma
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Burlington
,
MA
United States
Hannah's actions that day reflect the very essence of compassionate nursing care.
I would like to nominate Hannah for a DAISY Award in recognition of the extraordinary compassion, advocacy, and dedication she demonstrated while caring for a patient during an incredibly difficult hospitalization. This patient had a very lengthy stay in the hospital and was suffering from advanced cancer. As her condition declined, it was evident in her eyes that she was frightened, uncomfortable, and struggling. Hannah recognized this immediately and worked tirelessly throughout her shifts to advocate for the patients' comfort, dignity, and care.
Caring for patients who are actively dying can be emotionally challenging, especially when family members are not yet able to comprehend or accept what is happening. Hannah navigated this delicate situation with remarkable professionalism and empathy. The patient had multiple MET calls during her stay as her condition continued to worsen. During one particularly difficult episode, the patient became severely tachypneic, tachycardic, and diaphoretic. Hannah quickly paged the provider to come to the bedside. The provider worked to communicate the severity of the situation to the patient's husband, who was deferring all decisions to their son. The son was understandably struggling, and the conversation became very difficult.
Ultimately, the provider asked Hannah to call a MET so that the ICU attending physician could speak with the family and help guide decision-making. Throughout the entire situation, Hannah never lost sight of what mattered most: the patient. Even in the midst of the chaos and complex conversations happening around her, Hannah remained at the patient's side. She held the patient's hand throughout the entire MET call, offering quiet comfort and reassurance. When the patient took her final breath, Hannah was still there, holding her hand.
What Hannah did next exemplifies the true spirit of nursing. After the room had cleared and the clinical activity had settled, Hannah noticed the patient's husband sitting alone in his grief. She pulled a chair up beside him, offered him tissues and water, and simply sat with him. She held his hand and gave him the space and support he needed to begin processing the loss of his wife. Hannah's actions that day reflect the very essence of compassionate nursing care. She advocated fiercely for her patient, provided comfort during the patient's final moments, and extended profound kindness to a grieving family member during one of the most difficult moments of his life. Hannah reminded everyone involved that nursing is not only about clinical skill, but about humanity, dignity, and being present for patients and families when they need it most.
Caring for patients who are actively dying can be emotionally challenging, especially when family members are not yet able to comprehend or accept what is happening. Hannah navigated this delicate situation with remarkable professionalism and empathy. The patient had multiple MET calls during her stay as her condition continued to worsen. During one particularly difficult episode, the patient became severely tachypneic, tachycardic, and diaphoretic. Hannah quickly paged the provider to come to the bedside. The provider worked to communicate the severity of the situation to the patient's husband, who was deferring all decisions to their son. The son was understandably struggling, and the conversation became very difficult.
Ultimately, the provider asked Hannah to call a MET so that the ICU attending physician could speak with the family and help guide decision-making. Throughout the entire situation, Hannah never lost sight of what mattered most: the patient. Even in the midst of the chaos and complex conversations happening around her, Hannah remained at the patient's side. She held the patient's hand throughout the entire MET call, offering quiet comfort and reassurance. When the patient took her final breath, Hannah was still there, holding her hand.
What Hannah did next exemplifies the true spirit of nursing. After the room had cleared and the clinical activity had settled, Hannah noticed the patient's husband sitting alone in his grief. She pulled a chair up beside him, offered him tissues and water, and simply sat with him. She held his hand and gave him the space and support he needed to begin processing the loss of his wife. Hannah's actions that day reflect the very essence of compassionate nursing care. She advocated fiercely for her patient, provided comfort during the patient's final moments, and extended profound kindness to a grieving family member during one of the most difficult moments of his life. Hannah reminded everyone involved that nursing is not only about clinical skill, but about humanity, dignity, and being present for patients and families when they need it most.