Lena Topitzer
December 2024
Lena
Topitzer
,
RN
Shapiro 6W
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Boston
,
MA
United States
It is difficult to grieve in the spotlight of a hospital room, but when Lena walked in, the mom’s face shifted subtly from taut grief and forced politeness to quiet comfort with an occasional crafty smirk.
Lena Topitzer, BSN, RN, of Shapiro 6 West, received a DAISY Award for her exquisite ability to care for an entire family during a devastating situation. She cared for a patient’s mother, siblings and extended family as they grieved, taking extra measures to coordinate resources to support them through their loss. Her nominator wrote: “It is a mystery to me how she did all of the above, but it is a master class in being emotionally present and emotionally flexible.”