Myra Bush

Our DAISY Award recipient this month is Myra Bush. Myra was nominated based on her several years of work at Mother Frances Hospital. Unfortunately, she is leaving the Intensive Care Unit, but we are very lucky to keep her close to us. She will be working in the Dialysis unit. Here is the nomination:

“I can definitely say, we all face hard times and we all face good times, but when things happen around the Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Units, good or bad, we share in it completely. The nurses and ancillary staff are an extension of a family. A large family; with a mother hen.

Myra Bush, RN can be seen on each shift, working her tail off to assist her co-workers, in any way she possibly can. Heavy patient? Not a problem. Assistance with meds? Covered. Get someone to the restroom or chair? She’s there.

She never gripes, grumps or complains. She just does what is required and never expects more than a simple, “Thank you.” She always has a warm, genuine smile and a warm hug, for anyone who needs it; patients, visitors and co-workers alike, she cares for everyone.

This became very apparent to me as I was reviewing the past couple of years in my mind.

The extended ICU family of “SH” got word recently that “S’s” long time boyfriend had been killed in a tragic motorcycle crash. When my phone rang at promptly 0830 the next morning, my first thought was, chuckling despite the tragedy, “Myra is calling with my assignment.” She does this so often. She “notified” me that we would be gathering together and getting food for “S” and her late boyfriend’s family.

During “A’s” time of need, when her husband was ill, Myra coordinated people to take her to lunch and give her a little reprieve from caring for her husband at hospice. When he passed from this world, Myra collected food and donations to take to “A’s” to relieve some of the burden. Shifts were covered and coordinated so that “A’s”  closest coworkers / friends could attend his funeral.

Last year, a family of eight had the best Christmas ever; food, new clothes, toys, jackets, shoes. The last 3 Christmas’ have been really pleasant!  Myra has spent countless hours collecting money from anyone who would give it, clothes, toys, presents of all kinds. She has used her own money to buy presents, wrapping supplies, gas to go and collect and drop off.

There have been canned food drives for St. Paul’s, fan and jacket collections. Farewell parties, baby showers, birthday gatherings. Myra does so much for her co-workers, there is no way to count them all.

“Mrs. R” (now retired), was facing hard times when she was granted custody of her grandchildren. She had no beds, bedding or dressers for them. Myra rallied around, in her sweet way, soliciting donations of bedding, beds and other things that an unexpecting grandparent would need to set-up shop for grandkids. And when, right before they were to arrive, “Mrs. R’s”  car broke down, the remainder of the money was used to fix it.

And, when my own grandmother died, in the midst of a horrible family crisis, and my mother couldn’t attend her funeral with me, Myra did. She drove from Gilmer, held me up on her shoulder and offered me support. I would never have made it without Myra’s compassion and love.

Her genuine smile, thoughtful and caring manner will always be in my mind, she cares for each of us, as if we were her own family. In a sense, we are. I think she should be honored because of the compassionate way she cares, not only for her patients, but for her extended family at work.”

Pictured left to right:

Robert Rose, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Trinity Mother Frances Chief Nursing Officer / Senior Vice President Patient Care

Maureen Milner, BSN, RN, Divisional Director, Neuroscience

Myra Bush, RN, Direct Care Nurse, Dialysis

Jessica Hall, BSN, RN, Vascular Access Service

Sue Visser, MHA, RN, Clinical Director, Medical and Surgical Intensive Care