Gwen Happel, RN, Skilled Nursing Unit, Blessing Hospital, became the 33rd Blessing nurse to receive the international DAISY Award.
Through the DAISY award program, patients or their family members, visitors, doctors, hospital staff members or volunteers may recognize the extraordinary care provided by nurses.
Happel was nominated by the daughter of a patient to whom Gwen provided care.
“My father, spent decades of his life in and out of the hospital. Needless to say, it was not his favorite place. When he was transferred to SNU, in attempts to go home, his condition declined rapidly. It was clear that things were not going to get better for him. Gwen called me to tell me his condition. I could hear in her voice that she was concerned for him and this was not just another phone call on a list of things to do on her shift.
She was thorough in her explanation and I drove 13 hours overnight to be by my Dad's side.”
“Upon my arrival, Dad was asleep and would only wake again a handful of times. We put him on hospice that afternoon. I was on zero sleep, I had a million thoughts rushing through my mind, and there was Gwen, going out of her way to bring me Starbucks coffee, holding Dad's hand, and telling me the words I desperately needed to hear: "You are doing great; you are a wonderful daughter."
“As I write this with tears welling up in my eyes, it brings me so much comfort to know that Gwen was the last nurse to care for Dad after a lifetime of hospital visits. Her gentle touch, her obvious compassion, and her kindness went above and beyond our expectations. Dad would have wanted her exalted for her excellent standard of care and her wonderful spirit.”
Happel received a certificate, DAISY Award recipient pin, hand-carved stone sculpture entitled, “A Healer’s Touch” sculpted in Africa specifically for DAISY Award recipients, and a DAISY Award banner to display in her department.
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 1,900 healthcare providers worldwide participate in the DAISY Award program.
DAISY Award nomination forms are located on all nursing units throughout Blessing Hospital, other locations on the 11th Street campus and online here.