Jennifer J McCumber
May 2026
Jennifer J
McCumber
,
RN
ER
Lafayette Regional Health Center
Lexington
,
MO
United States
She stayed nearly 3 hours after her shift to ensure a critically ill pediatric patient was cared for until the transfer team left with the patient.
I am writing this to nominate Jennifer McCumber, RN, for a DAISY Award. I worked with Jennifer in the Emergency Department at Lafayette for the last few years. During this time, I worked closely with Jennifer and was able to fully assess her abilities and nursing practice.
Every Emergency Physician quickly determines who their "go to" nurse is upon arriving on shift. This is the nurse that you feel confident going into any patient room, no matter how severe the illness or trauma. The nurse you rely on, sometimes disproportionately, throughout the shift, because you know they are capable and solid. This nurse is Jennifer. Jennifer is one of the most amazing Emergency nurses I have worked with in my 14 years of clinical practice.
Working in a small critical access hospital requires broad clinical knowledge, as limited resources often require staff to perform the tasks of multiple people and maintain advanced skills they may not use daily. Jennifer is highly skilled and always performs to task. Not only does she provide outstanding patient care, but she also shares her knowledge with others who may not be as experienced or knowledgeable in caring for critically ill patients.
Jennifer is very committed to providing each patient with the best care possible. From triage to discharge, Jennifer is completely focused on patient care. On multiple occasions, Jennifer stayed with the patient long after her shift to ensure the patient was comfortable and the care plan was carried out as intended. Just last week, she stayed nearly 3 hours after her shift to ensure a critically ill pediatric patient was cared for until the transfer team left with the patient. She provided outstanding care during that patient's stay. On another occasion, a pediatric psychiatric patient who was scared opened up to Jennifer and really connected with her. She was set to be transferred to a psychiatric facility around an hour before Jennifer's shift was to end. The child was terrified to go. Although Jennifer had plans after work, she set them aside and rode in the ambulance with the child to keep her calm. It was a 4-hour round trip, but Jennifer went knowing that she gets motion sick. She took motion sickness medication and went out of concern for the child. She is definitely one of the most selfless nurses I have ever met.
I can describe many patients for whom Jennifer has gone above and beyond, demonstrating exemplary patient care skills and extraordinary compassion. I have met many nurses in my career who provide quality care, but few stand out for their warm, caring hearts and selfless acts that go above and beyond expectations. Jennifer is one of them. Nurses like Jennifer not only boost morale in the Emergency Department with their personalities, but their presence is also calming for physicians and other nurses. With Jennifer on board, we can be confident the patients will receive excellent care, and we can handle anything that comes through the door. She is definitely a standout.
Every Emergency Physician quickly determines who their "go to" nurse is upon arriving on shift. This is the nurse that you feel confident going into any patient room, no matter how severe the illness or trauma. The nurse you rely on, sometimes disproportionately, throughout the shift, because you know they are capable and solid. This nurse is Jennifer. Jennifer is one of the most amazing Emergency nurses I have worked with in my 14 years of clinical practice.
Working in a small critical access hospital requires broad clinical knowledge, as limited resources often require staff to perform the tasks of multiple people and maintain advanced skills they may not use daily. Jennifer is highly skilled and always performs to task. Not only does she provide outstanding patient care, but she also shares her knowledge with others who may not be as experienced or knowledgeable in caring for critically ill patients.
Jennifer is very committed to providing each patient with the best care possible. From triage to discharge, Jennifer is completely focused on patient care. On multiple occasions, Jennifer stayed with the patient long after her shift to ensure the patient was comfortable and the care plan was carried out as intended. Just last week, she stayed nearly 3 hours after her shift to ensure a critically ill pediatric patient was cared for until the transfer team left with the patient. She provided outstanding care during that patient's stay. On another occasion, a pediatric psychiatric patient who was scared opened up to Jennifer and really connected with her. She was set to be transferred to a psychiatric facility around an hour before Jennifer's shift was to end. The child was terrified to go. Although Jennifer had plans after work, she set them aside and rode in the ambulance with the child to keep her calm. It was a 4-hour round trip, but Jennifer went knowing that she gets motion sick. She took motion sickness medication and went out of concern for the child. She is definitely one of the most selfless nurses I have ever met.
I can describe many patients for whom Jennifer has gone above and beyond, demonstrating exemplary patient care skills and extraordinary compassion. I have met many nurses in my career who provide quality care, but few stand out for their warm, caring hearts and selfless acts that go above and beyond expectations. Jennifer is one of them. Nurses like Jennifer not only boost morale in the Emergency Department with their personalities, but their presence is also calming for physicians and other nurses. With Jennifer on board, we can be confident the patients will receive excellent care, and we can handle anything that comes through the door. She is definitely a standout.