January 2025
Amanda
Acker
,
RN
Nursing/Med Surg
Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - Franklin Campus
Franklin
,
WI
United States
Leanne and now Amanda continued to shower the patient with love and compassion. They bathed him and made him as comfortable as they could.
I would like to take the time to nominate four nurses for the DAISY Award for the care, compassion, and dedication to not only the family of a patient, but to the nursing profession. Leanne Walker, Brandon Nisiewicz, Amanda Acker and Amy Smukalla.
BG is a 54 m who was transferred to us in August at midnight from CSM. This 54yo gentleman is coming to the end of his life with esophageal cancer. He had been accepted to Horizen Hospice, but that changed when he was transferred to us. They do not come here, another company comes. When I entered the picture, it was Saturday morning and the patient had been here for over 12 hours. I received a call from Leanne for help with an issue. As I went over there to help, I found out that Leanne had been on the phone for over an hour calling multiple numbers for UHC for authorization without talking to a human. We began to collaborate and figure out what we could do. All of this was being done while Leanne was giving exceptional personalized care to the patient. We both reached out to people we knew, our administrators, for help. We made no progress on Saturday, but kept the whole family as comfortable and content as possible. As they were frustrated, not with us, but for the fact that we could not get authorization.
Sunday came, and we dealt with it again. Reaching out to Zilber, UHC, or anyone who would listen. The sheer amount of time she spent with calls was amazing. The family was kind and understanding, but they still wanted to talk to a hospice nurse about what to expect completely. Leanne and now Amanda continued to shower the patient with love and compassion. They bathed him and made him as comfortable as they could. This is now where Leanne thought about a co-worker who specialized in not only birth but death doula. Leanne now calls Amy, who, without a second thought, came in on her day off to talk with the family. Now, both noticed that there was a change in the patient and family. There was a comfort that washed over the room.
We never solved the problem over the weekend (holiday weekend), but the attention that all 4 of them gave to this patient hasn't gone unnoticed. I, personally have not seen this type of compassion in well over 10 years. Brandon for his attentive care on nights that the family talked about. Amanda, for sticking her head in and not her patient, but became her mission. Amy, for never thinking twice and running in to help the family. Leanne, for unending devotion to the patient and family.
We didn't find a solution, but we came together as a family and did what was best for the patient. We all cried in frustration and happiness that the family seemed to understand...and that was our goal. I am so proud of all of you!!
BG is a 54 m who was transferred to us in August at midnight from CSM. This 54yo gentleman is coming to the end of his life with esophageal cancer. He had been accepted to Horizen Hospice, but that changed when he was transferred to us. They do not come here, another company comes. When I entered the picture, it was Saturday morning and the patient had been here for over 12 hours. I received a call from Leanne for help with an issue. As I went over there to help, I found out that Leanne had been on the phone for over an hour calling multiple numbers for UHC for authorization without talking to a human. We began to collaborate and figure out what we could do. All of this was being done while Leanne was giving exceptional personalized care to the patient. We both reached out to people we knew, our administrators, for help. We made no progress on Saturday, but kept the whole family as comfortable and content as possible. As they were frustrated, not with us, but for the fact that we could not get authorization.
Sunday came, and we dealt with it again. Reaching out to Zilber, UHC, or anyone who would listen. The sheer amount of time she spent with calls was amazing. The family was kind and understanding, but they still wanted to talk to a hospice nurse about what to expect completely. Leanne and now Amanda continued to shower the patient with love and compassion. They bathed him and made him as comfortable as they could. This is now where Leanne thought about a co-worker who specialized in not only birth but death doula. Leanne now calls Amy, who, without a second thought, came in on her day off to talk with the family. Now, both noticed that there was a change in the patient and family. There was a comfort that washed over the room.
We never solved the problem over the weekend (holiday weekend), but the attention that all 4 of them gave to this patient hasn't gone unnoticed. I, personally have not seen this type of compassion in well over 10 years. Brandon for his attentive care on nights that the family talked about. Amanda, for sticking her head in and not her patient, but became her mission. Amy, for never thinking twice and running in to help the family. Leanne, for unending devotion to the patient and family.
We didn't find a solution, but we came together as a family and did what was best for the patient. We all cried in frustration and happiness that the family seemed to understand...and that was our goal. I am so proud of all of you!!