Kelli Terwelp, RN, Emergency Center, became the 59th Blessing Hospital nurse to receive the international DAISY Award during a ceremony on May 4, 2021.

Patients and their family members, visitors, doctors, hospital staff members or volunteers may recognize the extraordinary care provided by nurses by nominating them for a DAISY award.

Kelli received two nominations. The first came from the daughter of a woman needed to be transferred from the Blessing Hospital Emergency Center to Springfield, IL, by ambulance. The nomination said, in part, “Kelli was her nurse throughout the day. She was knowledgeable, kind, and did a great job communicating with our family. After working her 12-plus hour shift, she then went on the transport with my mom to Springfield making her have a 17-plus hour day. We were so grateful that the nurse who knew mom and had taken such good care of her would be in the ambulance with her. Kelli called me on her way back to Quincy to let me know how mom did on the trip and checked with me a couple days later to see how she was doing.”

“Her care and reassurance was invaluable throughout this whole experience. She is a great example of the kind of nurse you want representing Blessing Hospital,” the first nomination concluded.

The second nomination came from a patient, it said in part, “Kelli went above and beyond her call of duty by being especially nice and considerate of my needs in the ER.  She explained my condition in a way that has never been explained to me before. Kelli was very knowledgeable about my particular condition and told me what to expect with the treatment that would follow.   She made me feel very at ease and very comfortable. If I ever have to come to the ER again I hope I’m lucky enough to get Kelli Terwelp as my nurse.”

DAISY stands for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System.” The family of a 33-year- old man, who died of an immune system disorder, began the program in 1999 to honor his memory by recognizing extraordinary nurses everywhere who make a difference in the lives of people by the work they do every day.  More than 4,000 healthcare providers worldwide participate in the DAISY Award program.

DAISY award nominations forms are located on all nursing units throughout Blessing Hospital or online here.