Summer 2022 DAISY Award Honorees

Each quarter, CoxHealth recognizes nurses who have provided outstanding care with DAISY Awards. This article recognizes the summer 2022 honorees.

July 8, 2022 Newsroom, Springfield

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, colleagues, physicians and volunteers may nominate a nurse for the award.

Here are the summer 2022 Springfield honorees:

Mikayla Smallwood, RN, Neurotrauma Intensive Care Unit

Mikayla was nominated by a family member of a patient. Mikayla cared for the patient for three days in the Neurotrauma ICU.

“She was the perfect balance of professionalism, intuitive awareness, knowledge, skill, and empathy. As my mom started waking up, Mikayla showed real care and compassion. She was patient and gentle, yet assertive enough to lead my mom to sit up, stand up, eat etc. She was also a good support for my siblings and me. She communicated what was happening and why, and most notably, she communicated hope for my mom. What a blessing.”

Kim Luney, RN, Same Day Surgery

Kim was nominated by a patient for providing extra financial aid so they could pay for their medications.

“When I mentioned her kind act to the aid, they said Kim always helps people like that. She has even bought a co-worker shoes. Kim provided care for me and my husband. I know she was busy, but she made us feel like we were her only patients. Kim is the best, she provides care with compassion, putting patients first.”

Carrie Paulsell, RN, Labor and Delivery

Carrie was nominated by a patient in labor with her first child. She describes Carrie as a diamond nurse.

“As an outsider looking in, one would think that a nurse is just a person who takes care of patients. As an insider looking out, one knows that a nurse must be able to learn a little bit of every job to do well. An amazing nurse must be a good counselor, caring teacher, constant janitor, technology literate, compassionate coach, educated coworker, and so much more. During my stay on the Labor and Delivery floor for three days, I found that diamond nurse.

“Carrie was the most caring and compassionate nurse that I have ever met. She was the teacher that my husband and I needed as inexperienced first-time parents. She was my counselor through the hardest of times. She was the amazing coworker that introduced every single one of her coworkers as her best friends, and she reassured me they would take great care of me when they changed shifts. She was so educated, and able to educate me about everything we were doing while in the hospital. Cox is more than fortunate to have Carrie as a Labor and Delivery nurse.

“Carrie always exhibited the core values and mission statement of CoxHealth in every action she made. I have never found a person more deserving of this award than Carrie. She is the nurse that everyone dreams of having during their stay in the hospital. My husband and I will always be so thankful for the wonderful memories that we had with Carrie while delivering our son.”

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