Dakota Wand, RN, ICU, became the 57th Blessing Hospital nurse to receive the international DAISY Award. She received the award during a ceremony on February 9, 2021.
Through the DAISY award program, patients or family members, visitors, doctors, hospital staff members or volunteers may recognize the extraordinary care provided by nurses.
Dakota was nominated by a patient. The nomination read, in part: “During COVID, my step-father was in the ICU for two weeks losing the battle we all wanted him to win. Dakota was his nurse our last weekend with him. She was absolutely amazing. She went out of her way to make us a handprint, thumb print, and his heartbeat without us even asking/knowing. When she handed me this beautiful collage of all three items, I lost it. She said it was something so minor, however to my family it meant the world and still means the world to us. She went out of her way to also make sure that I could be by both my father's side and my step-father's side as he took his last breath with us (restrictions of only one visitor at a time).”
The nomination concluded, “She wasn't our nurse the day we lost him; however she made sure to come check on us and be there for us at any minute we needed her. She is truly an angel in our eyes. Those actions no matter how small they may seem mean the world to my family. It has helped with our grieving process. She is truly an angel and one of the most compassionate nurses I have encountered.”
DAISY award nomination forms are located on all nursing units throughout Blessing Hospital, and online here.