July 2010
Margaret "Ann"
McCullum
,
RN
Adult Cardiac ICU
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Peoria
,
IL
United States

 

 

 

I am nominating a very deserving and outstanding ICU nurse for the DAISY Award. First, let me say that I am a critical care and infectious disease physician and about as demanding and meticulous with details both as a physician and family member as they come. I was present at my stepfather's bedside every day during his 8 day ICU stay and worked with Ann much of that time. It goes without saying that her care was spot on: aggressive, expedient and accurate during clinical crises, while attentive and reassuring when comfort was most needed. But one incident stood out so much to me that I've now repeated this story several times to my colleagues. In our second day in the ICU, after asking so many questions about who Chuck was underneath all the tubes and ventilator, she prominently wrote on the room's care plan board: "SUNDAY - TURN ON BRITISH OPEN (GOLF)!" That gesture about melted my heart. Thank you Ann from our entire family for all those special touches. They did make a difference.