Daisy Award 2024 Q3 Winners

Critical Illness Recovery Hospitals DAISY Winners

Angalina Lowery: Select Specialty Hospital – Akron

A patient described Angalina as down to earth and someone she could talk with about anything, writing, “Every time Angalina walked by my room, she would always check on me no matter what she was doing.” The patient was especially grateful for the time Angalina took from her busy schedule to help her untangle her hair. “She is the best nurse I’ve ever had. I’m going to come back and visit her.”  

Carlos Filpo Pena: Select Specialty Hospital – Richmond

Six colleagues nominated Carlos, with each telling sharing a story of how Carlos is an exceptional nurse, team player, teacher, mentor and patient advocate – and how he always has a smile and kind word. “He takes the time to educate staff to give the best patient care,” one wrote. Another said, “He is always one call away for a helping hand, no matter if he is assigned to the patient or not.”

Courtney Graham: Select Specialty Hospital – Savannah

A patient’s loved one nominated Courtney after her swift and thorough response to the patient – already medically complex – experiencing an emergency. Courtney listened to the family member, evaluated the patient, checked his medical records and identified the diagnosis within minutes. “What a huge catch!” the nominator wrote. “My loved one’s outcome could have been devastating. It wasn’t. It’s possible he could have had lasting effects. He won’t.”

Crystal Eckhardt: Regency Hospital – Springdale

A patient’s daughter nominated Crystal for her “genuine care and compassion” toward her father. The patient had to return home while her father was still hospitalized and Crystal’s exceptional care eased her concerns. “She ensured me of his well-being and offered to arrange face-to-face calls … she is more than a nurse. She is an extraordinary human being.”

Franika Flores: Select Specialty Hospital – Youngstown

Franika was nominated by a colleague who said her kindness, compassion and dedication are unmatched. Franika is an expert wound care nurse who “coordinates daily with the physicians, ensuring that every detail is addressed, even when it means following up after hours or on days off.” Not only do patients and their loved ones praise her care and concern, but physicians refer patients to the hospital because of Franika.

Karen Wallace: Select Specialty Hospital – Battle Creek

Karen’s extraordinary compassion toward a patient prompted his daughter to nominate Karen, calling her a superhero. “My mom wasn’t there when my father took his last breath. Karen let us know that she and the staff were with him and she assured my mom that he wasn’t distressed. She even got me a copy of my father’s last normal heartbeat.” She thanked Karen for showing that kind of compassion to all families at the hospital.

Olena Zupan: Select Specialty Hospital – North Knoxville

Olena puts her patients’ comfort and well-being first, evidenced by a patient’s nomination that cited several examples of Olena’s compassion. The patient was undergoing wound care treatment and Olena ensured her sheets were soft. Olena chose to sit on the bed next to the patient during mobility exercises, encouraging her. “She plans my wound care around when I want it … she goes out of her way to make certain I am taken care of,” the patient wrote.

Onquinette Hayslett: Select Specialty Hospital – Nashville West

Onquinette was nominated by two patients’ loved ones for the care she provided to their fathers. Both families praised her compassion, thoroughness and attention to every detail for patients’ physical and emotional well-being. “Having Onquinette as my father’s nurse always gave my family peace and comfort – as well as my dad,” one wrote, with the other saying, “I knew when I met her that she was one of the chosen few who really can make a difference.”

Sheila Joyner: Select Specialty Hospital – Greensboro

Sheila was nominated by a colleague who said it’s evident that Sheila loves her job and caring for people. She cited Sheila’s care of a patient with ALS as one example. The patient could only communicate through eye movement. Sheila continually assessed him, did range of motion exercises every two hours and continually encouraged him, telling him to be strong and have faith. “The patient always told everyone how dedicated Sheila was to him and her job.”

Tondralanique Jude: Regency Hospital – Porter County

Danielle was nominated by a colleague who called out her extraordinary compassion for her patients and her willingness to lend a hand whenever it is needed. Danielle takes time to get to know her patients and their needs. Her colleague cited examples of how Danielle’s commitment to patients – for example, her thoroughness in reviewing charts – resulted in better outcomes, saying that Danielle’s priority “is always ensuring the patient’s medical care and safety.” 

Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals DAISY Winners

Amynah Myers:  Banner Rehabilitation Hospital – Phoenix

Amynah was nominated by a patient who said she was “the most caring and kind nurse I’ve ever had.” When the patient awoke one morning with facial swelling and pain, “Amynah recognized immediately that something was wrong,” the patient recalled. “I did not have any family with her that day, so Amynah became my family member by giving me a hug and telling me how concerned she was for me when I was upset.” Later in her stay, after the patient had shared her love of art and showed some of her paintings, Amynah surprised the patient with the gift of a painting set. “The gift was so thoughtful,” the patient wrote. “She really showed how much she cared for me."

Janet Dalida: Honor Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Scottsdale

Janet was nominated by a patient who recognized her for her compassion and reassurance during a four-night stay. Janet established a connection with the patient and earned the patient’s trust by discussing her extensive experience as an intensive care unit nurse. The patient found solace in Janet’s reassuring words that her wounds were healing well. “Her calm and sweet approach was exactly what I needed so I could rest,” the patient said. “I felt appreciated that she stayed with me until I felt better.”

Kelly Forsch: Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital – Edwin Shaw

Kelly was nominated by the wife of a patient whose husband had experienced an extensive stroke that affected his ability to communicate, eat and care for himself. The patient’s wife, who had a fear of hospitals, was grieving and struggling to cope. “I was basically in shock and denial,” she wrote. “Kelly attempted, from the start, to actively involve me in my husband’s care.” When the patient’s wife resisted, Kelly was gently persistent, training her using different forms of education including videos and hands-on demonstration. “Things that I said I couldn’t do at the very beginning, she showed me I could do,” the patient’s wife shared. “Kelly also encouraged me to be an advocate for my husband and start doing anything extra with him that I could – so I did!”

Kelly Gottlieb: Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – Marlton

One of Kelly’s patients had a terminal cancer diagnosis. Kelly worked with the patient’s spouse so that he could bring her home after discharge. “This spouse felt heard and even validated for being absolutely terrified worrying about what could go wrong,” said Kelly’s nominator. Kelly had experienced a similar loss and shared the knowledge and resources she found helpful. Because of Kelly’s kindness, he was empowered to care for his wife in the end stages of her life. “He recently lost her,” said the nominator, “and he was compelled to reach out to get a message to Kelly as to the difference she made.”

Marjan Fedai: California Rehabilitation Institute

Just three days after traveling 3,000 miles to visit her granddaughters, the patient who nominated Marjan suffered a traumatic leg break that required her hospitalization. “My husband was in North Carolina,” the patient wrote. “I was not only in pain, but I was fearful and lonely.” The patient, who was a nurse for 50 years, praised Marjan’s professionalism, clinical competence and compassion. “When Marjan became my night nurse, I knew I could rest well in her care,” she wrote. “She relieved my loneliness with our late-night chats and eased my pain with positioning and medication. She made me ready to walk my path toward healing with the sunrise.”