Kathy Clark has been an RN for over 30 years. That is an extraordinary feat in and of itself. After all that time one would think her love of nursing and desire to do extraordinary work every day would fade but it has not. A few weeks ago, when Kathy was discharging a patient home, the patient needed extensive teaching because she was being sent home on insulin and an oral hypoglycemic medication she had never taken before. After providing a kit that we stock on the unit for new diabetic patients, the other prescriptions were sent to the pharmacy here in the hospital.
When the pharmacy came to deliver the patient's meds, the patient was very upset because of the co-pay. She told Kathy there was no way she could afford the medications. Seeing how upset the patient had become she told her not to worry and paid for the medications out of her own pocket without even a second thought. This way the patient could start her meds and not just end up right back in the hospital.
The only reason why I even know this happened is because one of Kathy's co-workers pulled me aside and told me the story. The other nurse who was working that day said that Kathy just told her what had happened in the "matter of fact way" she always does as if anyone else would have done the same thing. To me, this is the hallmark of a DAISY Nurse. Doing such good for patients without even realizing how much of an impact one is making in the life of another.