Sara Tebos, RN, works in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation unit at Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital. She is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.
From the nomination
“Sara has been caring for a patient who had a traumatic medical journey including an LVAD. He lost confidence in his ability to exercise and that is why he is in cardiac rehab. Sara has encouraged him and modified exercises in order for him to gain confidence in activities of daily living and everyday life. When she found out he was struggling with affording his medication she worked with the pharmacy to get him applied for the MAP program. She has helped advocate for the patient countless times, being sure he was referred to pain management or getting him set up with social work when housing was an issue. Sara has gone above and beyond; being a patient advocate and social worker for this patient to have the best outcomes he can possibly have. This is just one example of hundreds that I can give where Sara is more than just a cardiac rehab nurse but a patient advocate. As we know, social situations affect medical care, and she tries to be sure that is not a barrier to coming to cardiac rehab.”
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.
