Mt. VERNON, IL — Angie Gunter, RN, Medical Surgical Unit, and Ally Neal, RN, Medical Surgical/Pediatric Unit, both employees of SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon, were each surprised recently with the prestigious DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing.
Gunter was nominated for the DAISY Award by a co-worker and was specifically recognized for the following:
“Angie is an outstanding, caring and compassionate nurse and I would like to take this time to share a story.
“We had an elderly patient who spent many days with us in the hospital. The patient lived at home alone and didn’t have much help at home. As always, Angie stepped in. She noticed the patient’s clothes were not in very good shape and attempted to clean them, but didn’t have much luck. So she went to the store and bought clothes to replace them and took them to the patient. This brought a smile to the patient’s face.”
I am so proud that I get to work with Angie, she has such a big heart, and of course, goes beyond her duties of a nurse for her patients.”
Neal was nominated for the DAISY Award by a patient who shared this story:
“I came in after having complications from surgery. Ally made sure I was comfortable. She made sure I had my meds. She even went the extra step and sat with me and prayed with me when I was upset. As she was taking care of my meds I noticed that she cared for the other patients with the same compassion. It is rare to see young nurses put a lot of care in the patients, they are usually in and out. Ally even came back more than once to see if I needed something.”
The patient closed her nomination with this message for Ally. “Thank you for taking such wonderful care of me. You are a rare diamond; keep your spiritual gift. I pray that you are always blessed.”
The DAISY celebrations for Gunter and Neal included a presentation by the DAISY cheering team of a special sculpture, a certificate, a banner which is housed in the Medical Surgical Unit to indicate a DAISY recipient works on the unit, and cinnamon rolls. Cinnamon rolls are part of the traditional celebration because it was the only food which J. Patrick Barnes would eat when hospitalized.
Locally, the DAISY Award is sponsored by SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation. The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33; the care Patrick received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. DAISY stands for diseases attacking the immune system.
Learn more about the DAISY Award at www.daisyfoundation.org/. Anyone can nominate an SSM Health extraordinary nurse; nomination information and forms are located in the hospital’s cafeteria.