May 2026
The Birthplace
The Birthplace
Bon Secours - Southside Medical Center
Petersburg
,
VA
United States
Winter Tuck, RN
Stephanie Roberts, RN
Jessika Edwards, RN
Lusina Mirtcheva, RN
Diane Dixon, RN
Stephanie Roberts, RN
Jessika Edwards, RN
Lusina Mirtcheva, RN
Diane Dixon, RN
All of the nurses in the Birthplace at Southside Medical Centre do great work every day. This nomination is just one example of what we do. I commend Winter (Primary Nurse), Stephanie Roberts (Support Nurse), Jessika Edwards (Support Nurse), Lucy Mirtcheva (Charge Nurse), and Diane Dixon (Nursery Nurse) for the DAISY Award for the extraordinary compassion, teamwork, and patient advocacy they demonstrated for a vulnerable patient.
During this shift, a 30-week pregnant patient returned to the unit shortly after discharge in a state of distress, stating she did not feel safe returning home. She had no transportation, no family or support system, and expressed a strong desire to enter drug rehabilitation in order to create a better future for herself and her baby.
Recognising the seriousness of the situation, Winter, the primary nurse, immediately stepped in as a powerful advocate for her patient. She placed consults and attempted to coordinate assistance but encountered barriers that would have discouraged many. Instead of allowing the patient to leave without a safe plan, Winter took initiative and began independently researching rehabilitation facilities that would accept a patient who was 30 weeks pregnant. She spent hours calling programs, assisting the patient through intake interviews, and ensuring necessary medical records were sent so the patient could be considered for admission.
This effort was truly a team commitment. Stephanie Roberts and Jessika Edwards supported patient care on the unit, allowing Winter the time needed to focus on securing safe placement. Lucy Mirtcheva, the charge nurse, provided leadership and support to ensure both the unit and this complex situation were managed smoothly. In an extraordinary act of compassion, Diane Dixon, a nursery nurse, went to a store to purchase clothing for the patient so she would have basic necessities as she transitioned to rehabilitation.
Because of this team’s determination and kindness, the patient was successfully accepted into a rehabilitation program that provides therapy, meals, clothing, and essential support services. What could have been a moment of despair instead became a turning point for this patient and her unborn child.
This team did more than provide excellent nursing care—they restored hope, preserved dignity, and helped change the trajectory of a patient’s life. Their actions exemplify the very heart of nursing and the spirit of the DAISY Award.
During this shift, a 30-week pregnant patient returned to the unit shortly after discharge in a state of distress, stating she did not feel safe returning home. She had no transportation, no family or support system, and expressed a strong desire to enter drug rehabilitation in order to create a better future for herself and her baby.
Recognising the seriousness of the situation, Winter, the primary nurse, immediately stepped in as a powerful advocate for her patient. She placed consults and attempted to coordinate assistance but encountered barriers that would have discouraged many. Instead of allowing the patient to leave without a safe plan, Winter took initiative and began independently researching rehabilitation facilities that would accept a patient who was 30 weeks pregnant. She spent hours calling programs, assisting the patient through intake interviews, and ensuring necessary medical records were sent so the patient could be considered for admission.
This effort was truly a team commitment. Stephanie Roberts and Jessika Edwards supported patient care on the unit, allowing Winter the time needed to focus on securing safe placement. Lucy Mirtcheva, the charge nurse, provided leadership and support to ensure both the unit and this complex situation were managed smoothly. In an extraordinary act of compassion, Diane Dixon, a nursery nurse, went to a store to purchase clothing for the patient so she would have basic necessities as she transitioned to rehabilitation.
Because of this team’s determination and kindness, the patient was successfully accepted into a rehabilitation program that provides therapy, meals, clothing, and essential support services. What could have been a moment of despair instead became a turning point for this patient and her unborn child.
This team did more than provide excellent nursing care—they restored hope, preserved dignity, and helped change the trajectory of a patient’s life. Their actions exemplify the very heart of nursing and the spirit of the DAISY Award.