My mother was at Virginia Mason, on floor 10 for an extended stay with multiple medical issues. Our time on floor 10 made such a difference in my mom and our family's lives. For this reason, I am nominating the Virginia Mason floor 10 nurse-led team for the DAISY Team Award. Floor 10 has some of the most caring and responsible staff. Everyone's calm and encouraging demeanor and attention to detail, no matter how big or small, did what it took to make my mom feel comfortable and good about herself. The RNs were our miracle nurses. Their voices, their encouragement, their non-stop efforts to constantly make sure mom was doing well and getting the rest she needed. During their morning updates with us and morning talks with her, they always made her feel that she was special and loved. We'd share stories, talk about family, culture, and of course what was best for my mom. They were our safety nets. They listened when we were scared and talked us through all the different procedures and updates on mom and then they would celebrate each accomplishment. Celebrate when she started to eat. Celebrate when she could sit on a commode. Everything for them was progressed and we were reassured yet again, we were in the right place.
The doctors, OT/PT, and Speech, also played such a huge part in mom's care, but I can't thank the RN and PCT staff enough on floor 10 for their constant support and love. When mom wouldn't take her medication and was having anxiety, the staff would dance and get her to laugh and she'd take it. When she wanted a shower or bath, it was the PCTs that help her while showering her with compliments. All the nurses and PCTs were mom's personal motivators, encouraging her to push herself more and move her legs while joking and laughing with her as she did it. When she would walk more, the whole staff came in to give her high fives and hugs. They were all so proud of her just as much as her own children were. There is something special about the floor 10 staff. It is a community. They are a family. They are truly Earth's angels that we got lucky enough to meet and be my mom's biggest supporters. If you could've seen the smiles on my mom's face, you would know just how deserving this great staff is of this award. I also want to thank the level 10 leadership for their role in my mom's care. You can tell they know how to encourage and run a team. As a teacher, I noticed so much on this floor, and I wish we could emulate this same energy within the staff at my school. Hands down, this is the best medical team ever, and they are 100% deserving of this DAISY Team Award at Virginia Mason. I promise you, we will come back every year that we can. Not just for check-ups, but to visit our medical family.