Nursing

October 20, 2021

Third quarter 2021 DAISY Awards honor extraordinary nurses

DAISY Awards are given to great nurses all over the United States and in many other countries

By: Matt Batcheldor

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has announced the third quarter of 2021 recipients of the DAISY Award, a recognition for extraordinary nurses who exemplify compassion toward patients and families.

VUMC distributes the award in partnership with The DAISY Foundation, which was formed in 1999 to honor the memory of J. Patrick Barnes, a 33-year-old man who died of complications of the autoimmune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Barnes’ family was moved by the care they received from his nurses and wanted to recognize them as a way to preserve his memory. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.

Vanderbilt is one of more than 4,650 health care facilities and schools of nursing in all 50 states and 28 other countries that offer the award. VUMC nurse committees determine the individual recipients.

This round of DAISY Awards honors six recipients, including two each from Vanderbilt University Hospital and Vanderbilt Adult Ambulatory Clinics, as well as one each from Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Previous recipients of the DAISY Award are here. The award is open to all licensed nurses and anyone can nominate — including co-workers, patients and their families. Nominations may be made here.

The recipients of this group of DAISY awards are:

Camryn Sartory, BSN, RN, Neurological Intensive Care Unit, Vanderbilt University Hospital.

Camryn Sartory. From the nomination: “The doctors tried everything, but my mom was still in a coma and would never be able to interact with anyone again. She was in a vegetative state and I, as my mom’s only child and with no spouse, was put in the hard position of choosing whether or not and when to withdraw care. Camryn made herself someone I felt like I could rely on for anything that I needed while my mom was there. She was so friendly, kind and caring. She made a very intense and difficult situation a little more manageable, and for that I’m so grateful.” Photo by Donn Jones

Jamie Runions, RN, Adult CSL, Team D, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital.

Jamie Runions. From the nomination: “This was the fourth time that I have been hospitalized at the Vanderbilt Psych Hospital. Nurse Jamie treated me as if I had never left in the first place. Nurse Jamie treated me with the utmost respect and compassion. She made me smile and laugh. Every time that Nurse Jamie came to work, she would always ask me how my day went. Not only did she treat me this way, but everyone that she came into contact with as well. Nurse Jamie is a very special individual.” Photo by Erin O. Smith

Rebecca Jackson Plowman, BSN, RN,  Medical Intensive Care Unit, Vanderbilt University Hospital.

Rebecca Jackson Plowman. From the nomination: “My husband spent seven weeks in the care of an amazing team of MICU nurses, NPs, and physicians. They treated him like family, cheered when his labs improved, laughed at his goofy jokes, and listened when he told them he was scared. During the last two days of his short life, I met Rebecca Jackson. She welcomed me into her bedside care, encouraged me to warm the purple out of his cold fingers, allowed me to share stories of our 20-year marriage, play some of his favorite songs, and sing to him until the moment he took his final breath. Her words gave me hope, peace, and the ability to give Jason the dignified death he deserved.” Photo by Susan Urmy

Ronda Mathes, LPN,  Franklin Walk-in Clinic, Vanderbilt Adult Ambulatory Clinics.

Ronda Mathes. From the nomination: “Ronda was my nurse when I came into the walk-in clinic last week and I knew right away that she was a special lady. She is overflowing with kindness and empathy for patients and absolutely loves what she does. I have severe white coat anxiety, and had put off coming in for a serious issue I was having for over a week. Ronda was so comforting and eased all my anxieties; she even made giving blood a totally painless and, dare I say, almost pleasant experience with her kind words and interesting conversation.” Photo by Erin O. Smith

Virginia Freeman, RN, Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute, Vanderbilt Adult Ambulatory Clinics, Shelbyville.

Virginia Freeman. From the nomination: “My father suffered a massive MI (heart attack) and developed severe HF (heart failure). It is like walking a tightrope, so to speak, trying to maintain a healthy fluid level. The last time my dad was fluid overloaded, Dr. (Pete) Fong was out of town. His nurse, Virginia, said that she would speak with Dr. Fong and call back with instructions. Virginia called at 7 p.m. from the office. She had stayed in the office until all calls were returned, as promised. This is above and beyond expectation. Anyone else would have put off return calls until the next day. Virginia is someone with a moral code and heart of gold. She treats my dad like her family.” Photo by Erin O. Smith

Tyler Eads, BSN, RN, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Tyler Eads. From the nomination: “Tyler went above and beyond in the care of our daughter. This was our third ICU stay and we’ve been in and out of the hospital for months, and Tyler’s care meant so much to us exhausted, concerned parents. Three really important components stood out: his kindness and gentleness toward our baby during every interaction/intervention, the friendly and respectful way he treated us parents, and his proactive and consistent interaction with and escalation to the rest of the care team.” Photo by Erin O. Smith 

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