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VUMC DAISY Recipients
DAISY Recipients September 2024
“Melody’s dedication and expertise shine brightly in her care for both preoperative and postoperative patients. In the preoperative phase, she meticulously prepares patients, ensuring they are informed … and comforts them prior to their procedure. Her reassuring demeanor alleviates anxiety and fosters trust. When recovering patients, Melody’s vigilance and clinical skills are remarkable. She monitors patients closely, and always elevates concerns or complications with confidence and efficiency. Her compassionate approach extends beyond medical tasks; she listens attentively to patients’ needs, providing emotional support and encouragement throughout their recovery journey. Melody’s commitment to excellence and patient-centered care makes her an invaluable asset to the surgical department at Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital.” |
“Mel was really encouraging when our daughter was a patient. She gave me detailed information about my daughter and intently listened to my questions and concerns about sensitive topics like autism and questions about how I can be a more supportive parent of a child with extreme anxiety and depression. Sometimes there aren’t simple answers or solutions. As parents we are used to being problem solvers, but mental health doesn’t have easy solutions. I appreciate Mel’s perspective as a nurse. She was kind, concerned, and had a genuine compassion for my daughter and me. I am so grateful for you Mel, thank you!” |
“I was at the hospital with my son, who wasn’t feeling well, and my other kids were understandably restless and anxious about the whole situation. Juggling their moods and concerns with my son’s care felt like trying to keep too many balls in the air at once. The hospital atmosphere wasn’t helping, with its mix of antiseptic smells and the constant background noise of pages and alerts. |
DAISY Lifetime Achievement Recipient
“Marilyn cares deeply about those who care for patients and ensures the organizational environment affords nurses and others the ability to deliver exceptional care. She allows patients and families to experience care consistent with the DAISY criteria. Marilyn is the best example of a DAISY-worthy nurse. She will long be remembered and never forgotten for building a lasting legacy of caring and excellence.” |
DAISY Recipients August 2024
“I can’t express how impactful Lauren was during our birth experience. When I think back on how scary that evening was, I always think about how grateful I am that Lauren was our nurse and such a comfort and bright light during a traumatic experience. I don’t think we could have done it without her. When we first were admitted to the hospital and our room, Lauren immediately made us feel safe, at ease, and well-informed. She walked us through aspects of the unit and specifically highlighted what they do in an emergency situation (although she said, ‘we always hope it never comes to that’). “Unfortunately, just a few hours into our induction, our emergency situation occurred. Through all the chaos of having an OBET [obstetrical emergency team] called, Lauren was by my side, talking me through it, and a source of comfort. I found myself looking to her (among the 10-15 other people that rushed into the room) for clarification, and I knew that I could trust her wholeheartedly. Once the baby and I had stabilized, we were flooded with information and potential scenarios. Lauren took the time to walk us through each one, and when we weren’t ready to commit to an epidural, she strongly advocated for us and helped us develop a plan for when we would re-discuss the need for one. Throughout the night, she kept in constant communication with me, providing updates on our little boy’s heart rate, and ensuring that I had all the information to make educated decisions about next steps. “Because of this, when our second emergency of the night occurred and another OBET was called, I knew exactly what to expect and was prepared for the upcoming emergency C-section. And once again, Lauren was by my side the entire time. Her presence in the OR was my main source of comfort until my husband could join us. She physically (and emotionally) held me up while I received my spinal, walked me through each step, encouraged me, and even made me laugh a couple times. “Through the unexpected means of delivering our baby boy, Lauren stands out as one of the sweetest and brightest aspects of the night. As a fellow nurse that works in critical care, I couldn’t imagine having a better RN to take care of me and my family. I understand first-hand the challenges of managing a critical situation with grace, composure, and urgency – Lauren demonstrated all of this and more. She is highly deserving of a DAISY Award, and I am so grateful for her and her phenomenal care.” |
“I have been fighting Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer since January 20 of 2017, and I have been in and out of different hospitals. … When I got here, Kelsey and the other nurses on this floor let me know that there are still people willing to care enough to help me. Kelsey has done an exceptional job taking care of me and has taken the extra time to talk to me and make me feel human again, and she helped me have my hope back again. I feel like Kelsey should be recognized, because she goes above and beyond the extra mile to help her patients.” |
“The news was given … that his brain damage was extensive, and he would not recover. We were shocked and devastated to say the least. His nurse in the ICU that day was Hayleigh. She was able to care for him a few times during his stay. She is an angel on earth in our eyes. … We saw firsthand that Hayleigh Murphy has a giant heart and is a fantastic nurse. We will be forever grateful that she was his nurse on that day. … She is a professional in every way and a class act. VUMC is lucky to have her on their team.” |
Spring 2024 DAISY Recipients
“I cannot say enough positive and affirming things about Ms. Angie. Wow! God’s gift to the nursing profession. Smart, knowledgeable, insightful, capable, compassionate, down to earth, and, most importantly, kind. I am so grateful that I was assigned to her on PostOp Day Zero. She gave me all her attention — no request was ignored, she anticipated things I didn’t know I needed and she brought a smile and encouraging word every time she walked into the room. She is an incredible nursing professional and an exemplary human being.” |
“Our sweet girl passed away. Even though the situation was horrible and unfortunate, it couldn't have gone better. Maddy was so compassionate and caring the entire time. I cope with dark humor and she was very on beat with me and I loved that. ... She answered every question we had with a clear and loving response. She explained the situation, everything that was going on, and what to expect. There were moments when she caught us, the parents, alone and asked multiple times if we were OK, if we needed anything, and if we ever wanted time alone with our daughter, that she could make that happen and we don't have to worry. She was very attentive to reaction, emotion, and overall room vibes. If I ever have to go through death again, myself or another loved one, I would want to have Maddy by my side.” |
“My husband came to same-day surgery for an arteriogram. He was very nervous because he did not go to the doctor often. Nurse Rhonda went out of her way to make him feel at ease, as she could tell he was extremely nervous. She came into the room many times keeping us updated about where we were in the process and what the next steps were. These updates and checking in helped my husband feel much more at ease than I ever thought was possible.” |
“Joseph was an amazing nurse to my brother the entire shift (7-7). He showed true care and compassion and made my brother and me top priority. He was gentle and kind and allowed my brother every bit of dignity that he could. ... We have been here 14 days so far and while we have been treated very well, Joseph truly went above and beyond and could tell this was something that he does during each shift he works. He is an amazing nurse. There were so many things that he did throughout the night that I cannot begin to list them all, but I can say he exhibited the absolute best nursing care that I have ever witnessed. ... He is truly a gem within your hospital.” |
“Shana received a triage call about a patient reporting high ileostomy output and he needed help. In her thorough triage and assessment, the nurse was able to determine the patient was not dehydrated, but possibly had high ostomy output and did have some medication changes that potentially needed to be made. ...The nurse thought creatively and saw the patient did have an ER close to him, but his clinical picture was not emergent. Instead, she called the local ER and asked to speak to a charge nurse. She explained the situation to the charge nurse and asked if they had a disposable handheld urinal they could give to the patient, and she could then teach him how to measure output from the ileostomy. ... This represents not just the kindness but the creativity and relentless pursuit of excellent patient care from our Vanderbilt nurses!” |
“To say Christian is outstanding would be merely touching the surface. I am sure he has many, many patients, but he makes the both of us feel like his sole mission is to give (my husband) extraordinary care. Christian knows that a heart transplant can change people in many ways, and he also knows that every patient is different. Instead of opening up a textbook and treating him like any other person, he allows (my husband) to talk through his struggles and concerns. He knows my husband is a proud man who has struggled with many setbacks. He approached him with dignity, and respect, putting him at ease when nothing else seems to help.” |
“My grandfather was admitted to the ICU in January 2024 with Covid pneumonia and septic shock. At one point during his stay, he was on a ventilator. During that time, Chelsey Scott was one of his nurses. Not only did she provide him with the utmost quality care and respect, she also provided us, his family, with amazing care. She allowed him to have dignity during a time that he was sedated by making sure to care for simple needs like washing his face and combing his hair for him. She embodies the heart of a caregiver. She provided calmness during our storm. Her attention to detail and ability to handle the difficult task of being an ICU nurse while also being compassionate to her patients and their families are why she should be the DAISY Award recipient.” |
Winter 2024 DAISY Recipients
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DAISY Fall 2023 Recipients
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