Lacey Nichols, RN, Blessed Beginnings- Blessing Hospital's maternity unit, became the 41st Blessing Hospital nurse to receive the international DAISY Award on July 31.
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.
Lacey was nominated by a mother to whom she provided care. The nomination read in part:
“Lacy had delivered my first child and was there after I delivered my second and last baby. I went in the next morning for a tubal litigation since my husband and I chose to only have two children. After the procedure was finished I was not feeling well and she noticed right away something was very wrong.
After checking my blood pressure she hit the rapid response button. As I was going in and out of consciousness I remember seeing her get the preacher and had her eyes closed praying with him. About this time I blacked out. I have never been so scared in my life.
During emergency surgery she took it upon herself to keep my husband calm and make sure he was doing OK. Let me tell you, this was not an easy task, but she knew to give him the baby and as I am told they cried together. She didn't want him to lose his wife and my babies to lose their momma.
The rapid response team worked hard and pulled a miracle through and saved my life. As I'm waking up I see my husband, my mother, and the beautiful nurse who took the time to get to know me and figured out by one look on my face that I was in trouble.
After I was transferred into the ICU, Lacy amazed me again and talked everyone into letting me see my baby she knew we needed each other and he was the best medicine I needed. She brought him down every time I wanted to see him or when he needed to eat.
She made me feel like I was special and worth all the pain of removing baby tags and monitors checking his bracelet every time so I knew he was not going to be switched with another baby (yes one of my concerns I didn't even have to tell her about).
She is my hero, she is my children's hero. Each and every girl who gets the pleasure of having her as their maternity nurse is beyond blessed. Blessing Hospital is blessed for having such an amazing maternity staff but most of all for having Lacy. I will always and forever remember her and her beautiful heart. She is an Angel.”
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.