CoxHealth announces Springfield DAISY Award honorees

Each quarter, CoxHealth recognizes nurses who have provided outstanding care with DAISY Awards. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is presented in medical facilities throughout the United States to recognize the education, training, skill and compassionate care nurses provide. Patients, their friends and families, co-workers, physicians and volunteers may nominate a nurse for the award.

Here are the most recent Springfield honorees:

Kari Howell, CARE

Kari was nominated by a fellow nurse for the care she provided near the end of a patient’s life. She assisted and bathed the patient and came in on her day off to spend time with her patient.

“Knowing that her patient loves the outdoors, Kari brought a sound machine with outdoor sounds and sat at the patient’s bedside,” her colleague wrote. “Kari provides incredible end-of-life care, knowing we only have one time to do it right.”

Johnna Mortensen, 300 West

A colleague nominated Johnna for going out of her way to provide compassionate care for CoxHealth patients.

Johnna’s colleague observed her stop what she was doing to check on a patient who called out during her stay.

“Johnna immediately went to that patient, who was not assigned to her for that day,” the colleague wrote. “The patient was having a bad dream and was terrified. Johnna stayed with that patient, speaking to her calmly, until the patient was able to understand that it was just a dream and she was safe. Johnna had such compassion for this patient. It was truly an act of caring from the heart.”

On the same day, Johnna’s colleague saw Johnna take time to work with a family on another patient’s plan following the patient’s discharge.

“Johnna took time to organize additional education for the family. She designed a chart for the family to assist with education and communication with staff, and she continued to work diligently with the patient’s spouse to provide the most education possible,” her colleague wrote. “After a 12-hour shift, Johnna took her own time to help organize for the next day. Johnna is an amazing patient educator. She has a wealth of knowledge and is able to communicate that knowledge so effectively with patients and families.”

Emma Rodriguez, NTICU

Emma Rodriguez was nominated for the assistance she provided to a patient who needed an uncommon medication during a hospital stay. The patient had been receiving an outpatient medication through a specialized pump. When the patient was admitted to the hospital, the family learned that due to insurance the patient would have to self-pay for the medication, a cost of roughly $500 per day.

“Emma was amazing. She not only called the hospital pharmacy but also the insurance company and the company providing the medication at home,” Emma’s colleague wrote. “After multiple phone calls, Emma got enough medication to be sent to the patient’s home, which could be brought in to give CoxHealth Pharmacy enough time to order and get the medication in. Emma went above and beyond to assure this patient had what she needed. What a caring and compassionate nurse!”