Cody Stubblefield, RN, OCN, works in the cancer infusion center at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. He is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.
From the nomination
“I had chemotherapy at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Because I only had four chemo treatments, I did not have a port. With this in mind, I am an extremely hard stick and the lab was largely unsuccessful at finding a good vein. In the instances they were about to find a vein and start my IV, it was too small to support chemo and eventually blew. This created a lot of anxiety around this process. That all changed when Cody, not just one but every single treatment, took the time out of his day to come to my rescue. He was reassuring and successful in getting my treatment going. Every. Single. Time. He knew how to keep me calm and made the process so much better overall. To put the mark he made on me into perspective, this is the note I wrote to him on my last treatment:
“‘Dear Cody, I was going to write this in a card, but I knew my words wouldn’t fit on something so small. I’m sure you’ve received many letters from patients, because you are truly amazing at what you do. For me personally, you’ve made the hardest season of my 21 years a little more bearable. While on the surface it may have seemed like “just a stick for a vein and small talk,” having you as my nurse has been nothing short of a blessing. From the very beginning, I told you I was a hard stick and how much anxiety that gives me. I usually want to crawl right out of my skin, but every time you’ve been the one to take care of me, I’ve worried less. When I know, “Cody’s got it,” the worry I carry with every treatment feels lighter. Your calmness, confidence, and kindness have kept me grounded in moments that otherwise could have broken me. I’ll never forget that without you, my third treatment simply wouldn’t have happened, I wanted to pack up and go. You truly saved the day, not just that day but every day. I know you have a million responsibilities and an endless to-do list, but somehow, you’ve always made time to show up when it mattered most to me. There are no words that could ever fully capture my gratitude. Whether or not you’re religious, I believe there’s a special place in heaven for people like you. Thank you, Cody – not only for being an incredible nurse, but for being the kind of person who makes an unbearable situation just a little more livable. People like you are irreplaceable.’”
About DAISY Awards
The DAISY Award is a recognition for extraordinary nurses who exemplify compassion toward patients and families.
Vanderbilt Health 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 to preserve his memory. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.
Vanderbilt Health nurse committees determine the individual recipients. 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.
