Jenny Shelton, RN
Jenny Shelton, RN, has been a labor and delivery nurse at Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital for more than 40 years.
Her husband jokes that she has delivered half of Tullahoma because it seems like that when she is at the grocery store or at one of her grandchildren’s sporting events. She often has cared for multiple generations in the same family.
“I’ll have the mother or the father of the baby say, ‘You delivered me, and now I’m having a baby,’” Shelton said. “[Delivering babies] is what I’ve done all but six months of my career. It’s been in this unit. It’s my life.”
Shelton works as a charge nurse for the hospital’s 16-bed Labor and Delivery unit and assists in the NICU and the operating room. She has also taken on the role of mentor, nurturing new nurses by sharing the wisdom and experience she has gained throughout her career.
This summer, in recognition of her dedication to her patients and profession, Shelton received the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. She has previously been nominated for and received two other DAISY awards during her career.
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award honors nurses with more than 25 years of experience who exemplify superior care and advocacy for their patients, practice individual professional development and impact other nurses through support and mentorship.
“I was so shocked. I had no clue. When I walked there, I thought, ‘Oh, they’re giving a DAISY. I wonder who got the DAISY,’” Shelton said. “I had no idea there was a Lifetime DAISY Award to be given.
“It was very emotional.”
Rich Ellis, MBA, FACHE, President of Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital, presented her with the award at a surprise ceremony where colleagues, her husband and two patients who had previously nominated her for DAISY awards were present.
“Jenny Shelton is an amazing nurse and a superb leader on our team,” Ellis said. “Her dedication to her patients and the profession of nursing is truly inspirational.
“She has the experience and passion to lift the spirits and performance of everyone who has the opportunity to work with her. We are truly blessed to have her on our team.”
Her Lifetime DAISY celebration included other surprises as well; the hospital announced it will name a unit room after her with a plaque dedicated to her. She also received a scrapbook filled with photos, her two previous DAISY nominations, and notes from colleagues, including one from a nurse on her unit who Shelton helped deliver when she was born.
“Jenny is an extraordinary nurse whose compassion, dedication, and clinical excellence shine through in every patient interaction,” said Marilyn Smith, DNP, Chief Nursing Officer of Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital.
“She exemplifies the very best of our nursing profession and consistently goes above and beyond to ensure her patients feel safe, respected and cared for,” Smith said. “Her unwavering commitment to exceptional care not only improves patient outcomes but also inspires those around her every day.”
Shelton’s Lifetime DAISY doesn’t mean her career is ending. After more than four decades at Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital, Shelton said she has no plans to retire any time soon.
“I’m thinking I’ll make it 10 more years, to make it to 50 years,” she said. “I still love what I do.”
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 them, including co-workers, patients and their families.
